Comm page 383 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Comm page 383 - Essay Example no longer making profits; thus, they cannot sustain a massive workforce, and unfortunately, there seem to be no chance of the situation improving anytime soon, as the president of the company Bob Hastings, â€Å"I ain’t running a charity, and frankly I can’t say chances are good these folks are going to get their jobs back.† Looking for a good job is another work in itself. Besides many people lining up for an interview for that same job, the pay is peanuts. For example, the supermarket packing job that Schwartz went for an interview pays $8.5 while at his previous job he was paid $12.50. Moreover, despite having the required qualifications, the job seekers feel like they are begging to be employed rather than deserving to be employed. A Schwartz puts it, â€Å"I always feel like I am begging†¦..Asking for favors† . Nevertheless, he expresses hope that the economy might change soon, and the likes of him will be able to secure a job and take care of their

Supply Chain for Audi Essay Example for Free

Supply Chain for Audi Essay Supply Chain Research Submitted by Ahmed El-Barky Outlines (Topic 1) 12345Activities. Market and competitors. Supply chain design. SWOT analysis. References. 1- Activities for Audi. Audi is one of the best cars in the world. In the beginning I will talk about Audi’s activities. First of all we all know the Audi is a German manufacturer of Cars. Producing a lot of types of cars starting from Supermini to SUV cars in different prices with different categories. Audi is a brand from the group of Volkswagen. The company itself located in Ingolstadt, Germany The Company name comes from the founder name Who August Horch, His sir name means (Listen) in Germany and when you translate it into Latin it becomes Audi. 2- Audi Competitors. One of the biggest competitor towards Audi is BMW and of course the competition between Audi A4 and BMW 3 series. And BMW X Series and Audi Q7. Other competitor is Mercedes and they are competing with Audi A2 and Mercedes A class. 3- Supply Chain Design. Customer 4- SWOT Analysis. -Strengths Audis Brand. Audi is one of the most valuable cars in cars industry. The positioning of this car is really high for the customer they position it as high prestige according to the design and the style. -Strong cash flow Company operations during the period 2003-2006. The company increased its cash flow by 16% . according to that the cash equivalent increases from 1,207. 5million Euro to 4,884million. This is strength because with strong cash that will help the company to achieve its plans. Weaknesses Focusing only on Germany 70. 5% of the revenue for this company came from Germany Market. That will affect the company revenue because if the economy in Germany is not growing or sales in Germany is not going well. Or the competition in this area becomes higher. Small amount of production Audi has a small amount of production according to its Competitors for Example BMW produced 1. 1 million units and Mercedes 1. 2 million unit and for Audi in the same year it was 0. 9 Million unit that will affect the revenue of the company. ecause in the same year the revenues for BMW was 48,999 million Euro and for Audi it was 31,142 million Euro in the same year. Opportunities Sales in china China is the third world’s largest car market after US and Japan. China expectations are that it will be the world largest in 2015. Audi is the chines market since 1988 and it represents 10% from t he whole market. Audi became back in the chines market in 2006 by Audi A6 modified engine. Russian market. Russia is one of the fast growing car markets in the world. The annual growth was 30% in 2006 compared to 2005. Accourding to those changing Audi is preparing itself to compete in this market throw a large net of dealers and satellite service workshops in Russia. Middle East Market The Arab Gulf Area is one of the most important areas for luxury cars. Many of automotive industries start to establish their own factories there. The luxury car Is expected to grow 20% for the next 3 years. Towards that the company started to invest a lot for the luxury cars there like Audi Q7. Threats Material prices Cost of the raw material such as aluminum and other for this industry is rising. That will affect the company because the prices will be higher and that will increase the competition for the Japanese companies. Economy in Eurozone 90% from the revenue for Audi comes from Eurozone market and the euro economy is declining so it’s too hard to get the target revenue in this market only.

cancrer and depression :: essays research papers

CANCER AND DEPRESSION Approximately five years ago I was diagnosed with pelvic cancer, Cancer is not just one disease it’s several diseases. A tumor may be malignant or benign meaning that one is cancerous and the other non- cancerous. I was diagnosed with a malignant tumor in my right pelvis and being newly diagnosed, I felt out of control and over whelmed. As of today, the reason I developed cancer is not well understood. Even thought I’m a smoker, I don’t believe that was the cause of it, my cancer was a type of bone cancer. There are many none carcinogens which are materials that cause cancer but many are still undiscovered. Malignant tumors ("cancers") are capable of spreading to other parts of the body, whereas benign tumors cannot spread. Some benign tumors are called "aggressive" because they can destroy nearby bones and soft-tissues yet do not spread to other body sites. Sarcomas are malignant tumors that arise from musculoskeletal system tissues such as bone, muscle or connective tissue and this was the type that became my enemy. My reaction to my diagnosis was in shock and disbelieve. Fighting cancer is not a challenge you face a lone it involves friends family doctors and a good health care team. I went through several fasces: depression, anxiety, self-pity and anger. My main concern was my family, specially my kids. What if I die on the operating table, what’s going to happen to them? Who is going to support them? I had all these things going thru my mind, and many more. What I was going to go thru seemed unreal to me .I could have never imagined after being healthy all of my life and being able to walk and run without a hitch, that I might lose the use of one of my legs. Thinking of cancer every waking moment, I needed to resolve some issues I had in my life. I knew that after the surgery I was going to be incapacitated and incapable of doing all the things I normally did. My position at Artistic Concrete of Florida was head foreman and I was responsible of supervising ten construction groups that had a work force of approximately eighty men. I would be up at 5:00AM ,get in my explorer, and make my rounds thru the construction sites .I had to walk thru ditches; climb latter’s inspect rooftops and run around like a chicken without a head.

Multi-User Dungeons

This lengthy article on avatars in Multi-User Dungeons (MUD) was informative and useful, though hard for the novice gamer to digest in one sitting. Literature attests to the gaming community using computers as tools to communicate and to link together friendships and partnerships. However, the article points out there is a danger of the gamer becoming overly involved in the community, and to remember that words on a forum/discussion board screen etc does not equate to an entity that reflects a physical community.I agree that there are differences and these need to be borne in mind during the gaming experience, however I find Rhiengold ignores the inherent similarities of virtual and physical communities with regard to their psychological processes (Agress, Edberg, & Igbaria, 1998). The article reviews MUD as a dynamic and â€Å"wild side† to the Internet. Rheingold contends that real magic exists here and that a person's identity is characterized by its fluidity. The imaginary worlds created with huge computer databases of programming languages deliver melodramas and satires, puzzles, education, leisure time and competition.With respect to the article's description of MUD communities Rheingold is somewhat over-exuberant in listing virtues of MUDs. There is an emphasis on fantasy, power, dominance, sexual prowess and violent injury or death. The goals as presented by Rheingold are economic dominance, fame and social power. Another criticism of the article is that it is not structured soundly. The history of MUD communities begins a page or so into the article. The piece then abruptly jumps to describing potential empirical functions of MUDs; such as observing them as â€Å"living laboratories for studying the first-level impacts of virtual communities†.Rheingold does not attempt to outline how such research could be undertaken, what would be measured or how participants would be ensured of informed consent. Numerous ethical dilemmas are obvious whe n considering the use of MUD communities as settings for collecting social and/or psychological data. Unlike the physical environment, MUDs are not â€Å"natural† and field research designs would need to be modified to maintain ethical standards and empirical rigor.Rheingold also suggests that the MUD environments could be used a research environment for evaluation of second-level effect of virtual communities on physical world relationships, such as with family, personal relationships, friendships etc. Interestingly, Rheingold points out that fundamental issue for the western culture are called into question with MUDs, social norms, values and expectations are adapting to the virtual (pun intended) anonymity the Internet can provide. He makes a good point that this in an important issue for a community where many relationships are mediated by technology.Unfortunately, the article has several disjointed jumps, with Rheingold distributing MUD history throughout the piece. He e xplores the idea of gaming being an addiction, due to several MUDders admitting to spending most of their waking hours immersed in virtual worlds. The concept of MUD community addiction is presented in the article as a â€Å"communication addiction† that needs to be experienced to be understood according to MIT's Media Lab Associate Professor Amy Bruckman; How do we feel about tens of thousands of college students spendingtheir time and government-sponsored resources to chase virtual dragons? To answer this question, you have to dive in and explore assumptions about what is a meaningful way to spend one's time. What are the value judgments implicit in various answers to that question? † Rheingold suggests that the first step is to investigate the fascination some gamers have with MUDding, to determine how obsession develops. Identifying unique features of the medium that engage a gamer psychologically and that meets a person's needs and expectations would inform about f ascination.He further states changing conceptualization about what is identity is the underlying cause as to how fascination develops into a dysfunctional obsession. Hence, to Rheingold, MUD communities are an extension of ongoing cognitive changes brought about by innovation, technological advancements and adaption of symbols to suit a communication-saturated society. MUD environments have allowed dissolving of social boundaries associated with time and space, as well as boundaries of identity. A gamer can pretend to be another; they can pretend to be many other people simultaneously.It appears to Rheingold that depersonalized modes of communication allow some people to be much more personal with each other as compared to a relationship in the physical world. However, he questions the authenticity of the human relationship within the cyber context, given the masking of the person and the distancing that the medium can provide. In this way he states that MUDding is not real life. Ho wever, he does not explore the potential for MUD to become a person's life, which from a constructivist point of view, would make the virtual a â€Å"real world† given that a person is seen as constructing their own reality (Riddings & Gefen, 2004).Overall, Rheingold focuses on issues of identity for the MUDder. One of the first activities that a person does when entering a MUD environment is to create an identity. They describe their character for others who inhabit or visit the MUD. It is through the creation of their identity, states Rheingold that the MUD community develops, grows, changes and maintains coherence for its members. It is the roles each gamer plays, points out Rheingold, that guides the socio-cultural value system of the community; †¦the roles give people new stages on which to exercise new identities,and their new identities affirm the reality of the scenario. The fluidity of identity is enabled by the participants being able to communicate using a num ber of public and private channel options; ? private e-mail ? person-to-person chat ? person-to-person chat ? â€Å"say,† â€Å"whisper,† and â€Å"pose† to anybody else in the same room ? form of group chat that uses the boundaries of metaphorical rooms as social boundaries ? turn on or off special-interest CB channels for other semipublic conversations across different parts of the MUDPoses and words are used to communicate meaning in the MUD environment. Rheingold describes the use of pose as useful though disembodied non-verbal language. Another word for posing is â€Å"emoting† and provides an added dimension to communication not possible in the physical world. For example, â€Å"[Instead] of leaving the room, you can disappear in a cloud of iridescent, bubble-gum-flavored bubbles†. Rheingold comments that first feelings of artificiality when posing soon disperse when one becomes aware of the added control they have over the ambience of the co nversation.Posing can provide contextual cues to that are not available through words on a screen alone. The added advantage of having creative powers within the MUD environment takes the experience beyond that of conferencing and or chat sites, â€Å"such as magic carpets that transport their owners to secret parts of the kingdom†. Other characters are able to steal or gain power of objects and avatars of others. As such, the social construction of valuing items and characters is similar in process to that which occurs in the creation of value systems in physical communities.Similarly, the social goal of power, over others and the material world, is a social concept that continues to be maintained in the virual world. Rheingold ignores this salient feature of consistency in what makes a community. In this way, MUD environment's can be considered â€Å"real† as they are experienced by individuals, and they do lead to the construction of social institutions, rules and c ommon goals mediated by a culturally-dependant language.The MUD culture is framed by the technology through which it is made visible and allows interaction, and also, by the physical world from which its computer hardware and software, and persons social rules came from. Much like Russian dolls, worlds within worlds. Navigation of the MUD community provides a learning experience for each character and they learn their roles to play. Gender roles are a dominant determinant of social placement and social expectations within the physical world. So too in the world of MUD.For example, tiny. sex and net. sleazing are techniques used predominantly by male characters to seduce female newbies into cybersex that is recorded and distributed across the globe via the Internet. As such, gender stereotypes remain within the virtual world, and women tend to be viewed as inferior, gullible and unworthy of treatment as equals. Despite social thought advances in the 21st century, the physical world c ontinues to exist within a patriarchial system that creates power struggles between dichotomies.The MUD communities do little to challenge the status quo of inequality with regard to gender, and in many ways (due to its anonymity) increase opportunities for people to act out anti-social behaviors. It must be kept in mind that these behavioral choices are grounded in physical world cultures, so that Rheingold's claim that MUD communities are unlike the â€Å"real world† in terms of social interactions is poorly supported. In conclusion, Rheingold delivers an indepth subjective critique of MUD communities. The critical review before you has evaluated Rheingold's interpretation and communication of the relevance and function of MUDs.Evidently, MUDding is an important psychological and social activity or â€Å"way-of-being† for many people, both female and male. This has sparked much debate in terms of addiction theories, gender issues and perhaps most importantly, ones se nse of identity. This paper has demonstrated that MUD communities have the potential to be research environments if ethical criteria can be met, and that in terms of social processes virtual communities have many similarities to those of the physical world from which they emerged.References Agres, C. , Edberg, D. & Igbaria, M. (1998) Transformation to Virtual Societies: Forces and Issues. The Information Society 14(2), 71-82. Rhiengold, H. (n. d. ) The Virtual Community. Retrieved January 12, 2007 from http://www. rheingold. com/vc/book/5. html Riddings, C. M. & Gefen, D. (2004) Virtual Community Attraction: Why People Hang Out Online. Retrieved January 12, 2007 from http://jcmc. indiana. edu/vol10/issue1/ridings_gefen. html

Mun,delegate of australia

The delegate of Australia Is very excited to collaborate with delegates and participate In this prestigious conference. Today our delegation Is here to discuss two of the most aggravating issues in the world. It is a great concern to our people, and we are sure that it is a great concern to the entire world as well. The house is here to firstly discuss the Rebuilding South Sedan's Economy, following its Recent Independence and Ongoing Conflict with Sudan.As a new nation, South Sudan is building some of TTS institutions from the very start, with core administrative structures and mechanisms of political representation beginning to emerge. The Government Is still struggling to provide basic services for the majority of the population. Since the country independence in July 201 1, high inflation has been affecting the economy, which remains relatively undeveloped. Secondly, the HIVE virus, most commonly known as AIDS. AS all of you are aware, Eliminating Stigma and Discrimination Agains t those Infected with HIVE/.They tend too suffers from a tremendous lack of lath care, which accelerates the population's death rate. The HEADWINDS is affecting 1. 1 million people in the country,therefore they are forced to leave their homes and are left In poverty. CLC. Due to Its history of so many civil wars, diseases and death rates are always increasing in The widespread destruction of homes and hospitals has left children without families and many people with sicknesses and injuries. Because of the country poverty, state health facilities offer no treatment for HIVE/AIDS other than voluntary tests and council.The HEADWINDS virus acts as a significant brake on the economic growth and development of the country, since the people affected are forced to leave their Jobs. For these reasons we urge all delegates of the house to vote In favor of our resolution. TLS delegate of Australia wishes to contribute and collaborate with other delegates to solve these very urgent issues. Than k you for your attention Topic 1: after decades of brutal civil war that left two and a half million dead, the devastated and vastly underdeveloped southern part of Sudan secured Its Independence In 011.The world's youngest country came into existence amid great challenges. Secession from Sudan marked a major milestone and opportunity for South Sudanese, but the nascent state has remained fragile. During its first years of independence, an oil standoff with neighboring Sudan, inter-communal violence, persistent rebellions by splinter militia groups, increasingly constrained political space, corruption, and limited economic opportunities troubled the young nation. Then, In 2013. Power struggle within the ruling political party mutated Into an armed conflict, first on the streets of the capital city, and then across the country. South Sedan's latest war has killed thousands and displaced almost one million people. Although a cessation of hostilities agreement has since been signed, it is not being enforced. As South Sudanese seek to move forward, they have to build stable inclusive national dialogue process, security sector reform, and real accountability measures are needed to address the root causes of South Sedan's violence.Otherwise, the continued violence raises the specter of further atrocity crimes, and ungenerous destabilize consequences for the region. Industry and infrastructure in landlocked South Sudan remain limited, imposing prohibitive costs on the procurement and delivery of relief items and other operational activities. Seasonal rains and annual flooding render large parts of the country inaccessible by road between June and November. Inter-ethnic conflicts continue in various parts of the country, causing internal and cross-border displacement. In Jingle, more than 132,000 were displaced by August 2013.The rate of refugee influxes from Sudan remains considerable, with almost 6,700 individuals registered between January and August 2013 in Unity and Upper Nile states. The South Sudanese authorities continue to provide protection and safety for over 234,000 refugees in the country and have allocated land for two new refugee camps in Unity and Upper Nile States. Following the creation of the Commission for Refugee Affairs in early 2013, the authorities established a regular presence in the refugee-hosting areas, ensuring effective coordination with humanitarian actors on the ground.In a newly independent nation, parts of the population remain at risk of coming stateless by virtue of being of mixed Sudanese-South Sudanese parentage, originating from border areas, or having resided in Sudan for an extended period of time. TOPIC 2 actors that contribute to Wealds-related stigma include: HIVE/AIDS is a life-threatening disease, and therefore people react to it in strong ways. HIVE infection is associated with behaviors (such as homosexuality, drug addiction, prostitution or promiscuity) that are already stigmatize in many societi es.Most people become infected with HIVE through sex, which often carries moral baggage. There is a lot of inaccurate information about how HIVE is transmitted, creating irrational behavior and misconceptions of personal risk. HIVE infection is often thought to be the result of personal irresponsibility. Religious or moral beliefs lead some people to believe that being infected with HIVE is the result of moral fault (such as promiscuity or ‘deviant sex') that deserves to be punished. The effects of intervocalic therapy on people's physical appearance can result in forced disclosure and discrimination based on appearance

Free Essays on Technology And Space Exlporation The Challenger Space Shuttel

History The Challenger Space Shuttle exploded on January 28, 1986 at 11:40 AM (â€Å"The Crew†1986). All seven crew members tragically died in the explosion of their spacecraft during the launch from Kennedy Space Center. The explosion occurred 73 seconds into the flight due to a leak in one of the two solid rocket boosters that ignited the main liquid fuel tank (â€Å"The Crew†1986). The astronauts aboard were Michael J. Smith, Judith A. Resnik, Ellison S. Onizuka, Gregory B. Jarvis, and Sharon Christa McAuliffe (â€Å"The Crew† 1986). The crew members of the Challenger represented many different backgrounds in terms of race, gender, geography, and religion, which made this flight one of the most unforgettable tragedies of the 1980’s. Furthermore, McAuliffe was the first to participate in the teacher in space program which created much media attention. Therefore, the excitement generated by McAuliffe’s presence made the shock of the accident more horrific. The hype of this mission made the Challenger accident have a significant impact upon the nation. The space program was the most technological advance in America and the Challenger Accident impacted the nation, socially, economically, and culturally. Causes for the Explosion With the nation in shock, many wanted answers as to why this horrific tragedy happened. NASA was put in the hot spot and was forced to reveal a lot about the mission. The main cause of the explosion rested on two reasons. First, the cold weather on the day of the launch and the failure of the af booster caused the explosion (â€Å"Space Shuttle Challenger†2000). Just after lift off there were photographs taken, which showed strong puffs of black smoke coming from the field joint on the right side of the solid rocket booster. As the smoke persisted, there was a swirling flame coming from the side of the solid rocket booster. This was only 64 seconds into the lift off. As the flames grew larger, th... Free Essays on Technology And Space Exlporation The Challenger Space Shuttel Free Essays on Technology And Space Exlporation The Challenger Space Shuttel History The Challenger Space Shuttle exploded on January 28, 1986 at 11:40 AM (â€Å"The Crew†1986). All seven crew members tragically died in the explosion of their spacecraft during the launch from Kennedy Space Center. The explosion occurred 73 seconds into the flight due to a leak in one of the two solid rocket boosters that ignited the main liquid fuel tank (â€Å"The Crew†1986). The astronauts aboard were Michael J. Smith, Judith A. Resnik, Ellison S. Onizuka, Gregory B. Jarvis, and Sharon Christa McAuliffe (â€Å"The Crew† 1986). The crew members of the Challenger represented many different backgrounds in terms of race, gender, geography, and religion, which made this flight one of the most unforgettable tragedies of the 1980’s. Furthermore, McAuliffe was the first to participate in the teacher in space program which created much media attention. Therefore, the excitement generated by McAuliffe’s presence made the shock of the accident more horrific. The hype of this mission made the Challenger accident have a significant impact upon the nation. The space program was the most technological advance in America and the Challenger Accident impacted the nation, socially, economically, and culturally. Causes for the Explosion With the nation in shock, many wanted answers as to why this horrific tragedy happened. NASA was put in the hot spot and was forced to reveal a lot about the mission. The main cause of the explosion rested on two reasons. First, the cold weather on the day of the launch and the failure of the af booster caused the explosion (â€Å"Space Shuttle Challenger†2000). Just after lift off there were photographs taken, which showed strong puffs of black smoke coming from the field joint on the right side of the solid rocket booster. As the smoke persisted, there was a swirling flame coming from the side of the solid rocket booster. This was only 64 seconds into the lift off. As the flames grew larger, th...

Clovis I essays

Clovis I essays Clovis I, became the King of the Salian Franks in the year 481 AD, at the age of 15. He inherited this position from his father Childeric, who died in 482, and hereafter he began killing off members of his own extended family to reduce the number of men who could battle with him for power. By doing this he successfully united the Salian and Ripurian Franks within the first five years of his reign. Clovis than began taking on others that could potentially threaten his people or his authority. The first of these was one of the last Roman Generals, Syagrius, whom he defeated in a single strife in 4861. This was the first of his military accomplishments, but not the last. The next large step taken during Cloviss reign was his marriage to the Burgundian Princess Clotilda, daughter of King Gundevech. The couple married in 493, Clovis already having a son from a concubine named Theodoric. His wife being a Christian, converted all of their children at birth, including their first born, Ingomer, who died in his baptism garments2. Clotilda and Clovis conceived four more children, all males and all baptized at birth. These baptisms and Clotildas influence on her husband pushed him to convert himself to Catholic Christianity. Clovis actually spoke an oath to God during a battle with the Allamannis. Cloviss conversion to Christianity had many affects on the people and territory he ruled. The first of these affects included several changes within Cloviss own family. ...

Time Values for Access SQL in Delphi

Format Date/Time Values for Access SQL in Delphi Ever get the awful Parameter object is improperly defined. Inconsistent or incomplete information was provided JET error? Heres how to rectify the situation. When you need to create a SQL query against ​an Access database where a date (or a date time) value is used you need to make sure the correct formatting is used. For example, in a SQL query: SELECT * FROM TBL WHERE DateField 10/12/2008 you want to get all the records from the table named TBL where a general date field DateField equals 10/12/2008. Is the line above clear? Is that December, 10 or October, 12? Luckily, we are pretty sure the year in the query is 2008. Should the date part of the query be specified as MM/DD/YYYY or DD/MM/YYYY or maybe YYYYMMDD? And do regional settings play a role here? MS Access, Jet, Date Time Formatting When using Access and JET (dbGo - ADO Delphi controls) the formatting of the SQL for the date field should *always* be: #YYYY-MM-DD# Anything else might work in limited testing but can often lead to unexpected results or errors on the users machine. Heres a custom Delphi function you can use to format a date value for the Access SQL query. function DateForSQL(const date : TDate) : string;var   Ã‚  y, m, d : word; begin   Ã‚  DecodeDate(date, y, m, d) ;   Ã‚  result : Format(#%.*d-%.*d-%.*d#,[4, y, 2, m, 2, d]) ; end; For January 29, 1973 the function will return the string #1973-01-29#. Access SQL Date Time Format? As for the date and time formatting, the general format is: #yyyy-mm-dd HH:MM:SS# This is: #year-month-daySPACEhour:minute:second# As soon as you construct a valid date time string for the SQL using the above general format and try it using any of Delphis dataset components as TADOQuery, you will receive the awful Parameter object is improperly defined. Inconsistent or incomplete information was provided error at run-time! The problem with the format above is in the : character - as it is used for parameters in parametrized Delphi queries. As in ... WHERE DateField :dateValue - here dateValue is a parameter and the : is used to mark it. One way to fix the error is to use another format for date/time (replace : with .): #yyyy-mm-dd HH.MM.SS# And heres a custom Delphi function to return a string from a date time value you can use when constructing SQL queries for Access where you need to search for a date-time value: function DateTimeForSQL(const dateTime : TDateTime) : string;var   Ã‚  y, m, d : word;   Ã‚  hour, min, sec, msec : word; begin   Ã‚  DecodeDate(dateTime, y, m, d) ;   Ã‚  DecodeTime(dateTime, hour, min, sec, msec) ;   Ã‚  result : Format(#%.*d-%.*d-%.*d %.*d.%.*d.%.*d#,[4, y, 2, m, 2, d, 2, hour, 2, min, 2, sec]) ; end; The format looks weird but will result in the correctly formatted date time string value to be used in SQL queries! Heres a shorter version using the FormatDateTime routine: function DateTimeForSQL(const dateTime : TDateTime) : string;begin   Ã‚  result : FormatDateTime(#yyyy-mm-dd hh.nn.ss#, dateTime) ; end;

Media Literacy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Media Literacy - Essay Example The imagery of the video is rather provocative, though it isn’t deprived of aesthetic value and adherence to design principles. The very first visual feature to be mentioned is a peculiar color scheme including no too bright or light hues, with the overall atmosphere of the video being a little bit sombre. The depicted venue is the bar – or even a brothel – hosting rather strange and extravagant characters: a cardinal in a red robe, a priest, prostitutes, musicians playing live, several oddly dressed women, a supposed sinner lashing himself with a whip and a beggar outside the bar. Dominating black, burgundy, white and various yellowish shades endow the color appearance with certain aristocraticism, which is then purposefully supported by other elements of video design such as style of interior, lighting and costumes. Moreover, the imagery contains balanced repetition of dominating colors and shades, which makes the video look like a whole and seamless piece and creates unity. Also, a design principle used in the video design is opposition, as opposite visual concepts are drawn together here (Bartel, 2012). A mysterious white-veiled woman, which seems to symbolize purity, is opposed to a weary prostitute dressed in black; moreover, the opposition of clergymen and prostitutes, i.e. sinners, arrests one’s attention. In addition, a very significant image used in the video is the imitation of a Renaissance painting, which is virtually â€Å"imbedded† in the ending of the video, yet, with a pinch of mocking. The visual imagery used in ‘The Next Day’ obviously serves to communicate a rather profound yet daring message – along with the lyrics of the song, it serves to express Bowie’s radical criticism of Catholic church and its corruption. Clear and hidden religious symbols as well as actions of the featuring actors depict the most unpleasant sides of clergy and church

Formal report Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Formal report - Research Proposal Example Furthermore, the platform has made it possible for the company to conduct research at very low costs, understand aspects that cause changes in tastes and preferences of the customers, and make changes when they are needed in order to prevent customers from shifting towards the substitutes in the market. With the increasing levels of globalization resulting from liberalization of markets, efficient flow of information, and integration of economies, the level of competition in the local market has increased tremendously. This results from the entry of multinational companies which have a huge financial base to segment the market, position their products strategically in the market, and attract the loyalty of the customers towards their products and services. However, since the inception of Apple Inc, the company has been recording tremendous growth. Initially, the company was using traditional marketing methods, i.e. use of audio, visual, and print media. Nevertheless, after intense competition from Samsung, Huawei, and Sony, the company shifted to social media marketing. Social media enables the company to reach a global market. Currently, the largest market segment composes of the young generation. This is a segment that has a disposable income which they are willing to use in purchasing high quality products irrespective of their price. Since the entry of the internet in the market, young people have been able to access the social media. This has been facilitated by the lowering of prices of gadgets such as phones, tablets, Ipads, etc. As a result, majority of the young people have turned towards the social media in order to look for their products of choice. This creates a good advertising platform to the company (Hasan 2013). Apple Inc has been able to tap this opportunity through setting up a specific department mandated with advertising its products in the social media. This has played a significant role in increasing

Marketing management case 2 Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Marketing management 2 - Case Study Example Motor starters were installed on or near individual pieces of equipment and usually operated only a single motor. They ranged in price from $50 to several thousand dollars. Motor control centers consisted of dozens or even hundreds of motor starters that were combined in a customized enclosure and were capable of starting motors in various areas of the plant from a centralized location. They ranged in price from less than $50 000 to several hundred thousand dollars. The motor starter made fewer sales than the projections. It however managed to sell 8.5% of the entire industry sales. Repair parts were the most improved products, after realizing sales of 14% of the whole industry sales. The control centre increased in sales by 83.03 5%, the motor starter product fell by 5.76% and the repair parts increased by 25.42%. The total performance for all the products was an increase of 8.952% from 2001 to 2002. 1. Yvonne Belanger, owner of Yvonne’s European Deli, has decided that she wants to add a new item to the current selection of baked goods she sells in her upscale deli. Currently, she sells cookies and brownies for $2 each, and muffins for $3 each. She makes a standard 30% margin on all sales. Yvonne wants to buy homemade apple, cherry, and lemon pies and sell them from a local supplier for $10 each. 3. Fashion Forward operates three retail locations across Canada: in Halifax, Toronto, and Vancouver. It recently purchased a limited-edition collection of 300 designer dresses and sent 100 to each city. The dresses were all suggested to sell for $1200 each; all dresses had a net cost to Fashion Forward of $400. Sales results from the three locations varied: 1. Ontario Steel Manufacturing (OSM) manufactures steel components for other manufacturers. It has the opportunity to make stainless steel taps and faucets for a Canadian hardware company that will then package the products and sell them under

An analysis of corporate governance in the GCC countries and the Literature review

An analysis of corporate governance in the GCC countries and the impact of sharia law on it - Literature review Example As mentioned before that the corporate governance mechanism differs from country to country because of varied reasons like the orientation, time zone etc. This section will help us understanding the functioning of corporate governance mechanism in different countries excluding the GCC countries. The practice of corporate governance policies has a deep influence on the managerial decision making in the UK corporations. It is regarded that the composition, size and duration of the member of the board are important factors that decide a good corporate governance mechanism (Zhang, 2012). The Corporate governance mechanism in UK is deeply influenced by the Cadbury & Green report also known as Cadbury code of best practices and Greenbury report on Director’s remuneration (FRC, 2013). ... It also suggested that the board of directors should constitute of at least three members which are also applicable to Australian companies (EOG, 2013). The chairman, directors and the auditors are selected by the shareholders of the company at the annual general meeting. In France voluntary disclosure of financial statements has been the object of paramount importance (Lakhal, 2005). There are two kinds of financial disclosure; mandatory and voluntary disclosure (Taylor et. al., 2005). In the year 2002 a new set of corporate governance law was introduced in the winter report for the European companies which focused on tightening the corporate governance law. One of the crucial components of the report was to strengthen the role and responsibilities of the auditors. The chairman has to communicate about the internal policies to the internal and external auditors clearly. The legal laws related to French corporate governance are composed of 3 basic laws which include law of new econom ic regulations, law of financial security and law on financial security. However, the ownership structure of companies in France is concentrated even with the increase in the number of shareholders in the privatized companies (Charreaux and Wirtz, n.d.). The ownership structure of the French listed companies has undergone a huge change. However, the presence of increased institutional investors does not mean that their controlling the capital stakes also increases (Braendle, 2011). In the year 2002, 11.3 percent of the French companies had institutional shareholders as the main shareholders of the company compared to a 40 percent and more in USA and UK companies. According to authors Faccio and

Strategic Planning & Decision Making (SWOT Analysis) PART ONE Assignment

Strategic Planning & Decision Making (SWOT Analysis) PART ONE - Assignment Example The source to be ranked first is Kneer (2009), given that it is a book, reviewed keenly by numerous scholars before being published; thus, it has an attribute of reliability and accuracy. The second source to be preferred is MBA lecutures (2010), since it belongs to a group of lectures who are capable of offering accurate and reliable information. The third source is MarketingTeacher.com (2013) which has reliable information based on ideas gathered from different scholars. The fourth ranked source is Wendel (2012), which is written by a known author, while Quality-Assurance-Solutions.com (2013) is ranked last due to lack of a specific writer. 3. Information gathered from the SWOT analysis can be applied in making strategic decisions since the manager is able to allocate the relevant resource needed to implement the strategies without under application or over application of resources. Moreover, the manager is able to identify the weakness in order to focus on improving and strengths to utilize them for a competitive advantage. On the other hand, there is a need to identify the opportunities in the business environment, in this way the managers can utilize these opportunities at the advantage of the business. The business should also focus on the identifying the threats faced by the business in order to plan ways for dealing with shortcomings that may arise in future of the businesses. c) European Commission. (2007). SWOT (Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities and Threats) Analysis. For Learn. Retrieved on Jan 20 2012 from

Reading Books Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Reading Books - Essay Example se is recommended because reading books to others has positive effects on children’s academic performance, books are a permanent and ever-lasting source of information, and reading books spurs imagination and creativity in the reader. One of the benefits of reading books is that when they are read to the infants, their communication skills are developed and their concepts of emotions, shapes, and colors are improved. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) research found out that children whose parents read with the children frequently during their first school year have long-lasting positive effects on their reading abilities (â€Å"Reading to children†). â€Å"What kinds of investments should we be making to help these kids get ahead?...The results of this study indicate that getting some books into their homes is an inexpensive way that we can help these children succeed† (Evans cited in â€Å"Resources, Reports and†). One factor that provides books with an edge over other sources of information is their permanence. Books, once written, become permanent. They are not websites or blogs that keep changing or modifying or even inaccessible with the passage of time. This is why â€Å"selecting books to support readers’ abilities benefits teachers and children alike so long as teachers make decisions within and beyond leveled books based upon their understanding of students’ interests and capabilities† (Szymusiak, Sibberson, and Koch 11). Many people in the present age consider television a more interacting, engaging, and informative source as compared to reading books, though this is not entirely and always true. On one hand, television provides the audience with a colorful motion picture; on the other hand, books make the readers think imaginatively since they have to assume the looks of characters, the background, and the specific details of the story like the characters’ homes and other places. Another very important benefit of

Strategic Planning & Decision Making (SWOT Analysis) PART ONE Assignment

Strategic Planning & Decision Making (SWOT Analysis) PART ONE - Assignment Example The source to be ranked first is Kneer (2009), given that it is a book, reviewed keenly by numerous scholars before being published; thus, it has an attribute of reliability and accuracy. The second source to be preferred is MBA lecutures (2010), since it belongs to a group of lectures who are capable of offering accurate and reliable information. The third source is MarketingTeacher.com (2013) which has reliable information based on ideas gathered from different scholars. The fourth ranked source is Wendel (2012), which is written by a known author, while Quality-Assurance-Solutions.com (2013) is ranked last due to lack of a specific writer. 3. Information gathered from the SWOT analysis can be applied in making strategic decisions since the manager is able to allocate the relevant resource needed to implement the strategies without under application or over application of resources. Moreover, the manager is able to identify the weakness in order to focus on improving and strengths to utilize them for a competitive advantage. On the other hand, there is a need to identify the opportunities in the business environment, in this way the managers can utilize these opportunities at the advantage of the business. The business should also focus on the identifying the threats faced by the business in order to plan ways for dealing with shortcomings that may arise in future of the businesses. c) European Commission. (2007). SWOT (Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities and Threats) Analysis. For Learn. Retrieved on Jan 20 2012 from

Software to Support Assessment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Software to Support Assessment - Essay Example Donnelly, McGarr, & O’Reilly noted that in the quest to arrest the decline in the number of students taking science subjects in higher education the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment highlighted ‘the need to focus on investigative approaches, problem-solving, the assessment of practical work and the effective use of ICT.’ In light of this rapid injection of technology in the teaching and learning arena teachers need to be able to assess not only the software that is on the market for their use but the ability of the technology to effectively assess student learning. Consequently, there is a need to analyze the capacity of technology to facilitate assessment of students’ learning. Tomlinson emphasizes that there may be ‘assessment of learning, assessment for learning, and assessment as learning.’ Ultimately, Tomlinson suggests that assessment is most useful when it is seen as learning because it is then that it most informs the teac hing and learning process. She sees assessment as the ‘beginning of better instruction’. Assessment then is a vital part of the entire teaching learning process. This paper analyses how technology can facilitate both formative and summative assessment of student learning. ... Tomlinson observed that by the time she had given a final grade in a summative assessment the class would have been ‘moving on to a new topic’. She noted that this information could not be effectively utilized because the time for its effectiveness would have been gone. Thus, Tomlinson became ‘a devotee of formative assessment’ which would allow her to correct students’ faults in real time. Finally, Tomlinson views summative assessment as assessment of learning, and formative assessments as assessment for learning. It is difficult for the teacher to use technology for formative assessment since this process occurs almost spontaneously. Nonetheless, the use of the SMART board as highlighted by Debunker allows the teacher and the student to interact in real time. It is easier for summative assessment to be provided through technological means since these are standardized materials which may be given to all students at the end of the year. Using technolo gy to assess student learning is an emerging concepts as such there are a number of teething problems associated with its implementation. Hence, the use of technology to assess student learning brings with it several pros and cons. Technology allows teachers to analyze the scores of students at a faster rate. The use of assessment software allows for greater standardization across the districts. What is more, the students enjoy interacting with the technology. Thus, they will be more comfortable with the use of the technology than with traditional procedures. Two major concerns of the use of technology are the ‘quality’ and the cost of the materials. Williams, Boone, & Kingsley assert that teachers expect producers of educational material to be

The Internet revolution Essay Example for Free

The Internet revolution Essay The economics of information in the 1990s permanently altered the traditional linear supply chain of sources, manufactures, distributors, retailers, and customers via the Web (Pyne 2000, p1). With the emergence of the internet over the past fifteen years, the supply chains for e-retailers have evolved in a similar fashion to the industrial revolution. Unlike traditional brick and mortar retailers, e-retailers supply chains include the front-end interaction, the consumers themselves (Cucuzza and Cherian, 2001). Therefore, it is essential that e-retailers ensure a smooth integration of information between the front-end users and the back-end support functions. To be successful, e-retailers need to provide an efficient marketing strategy to understand the customer buying requirements, and to be able to address them. The role of technology has allowed e-retailers the ability to collect and analyze personal trends of their consumers, although at a possible personal infringement of their cliental. In addition, as superb the front-end model may be, many companies fail today due to insufficiently integrating and ensuring a back-end support function is in place to provide efficient and timely delivery to consumers. This paper will address the e-retailer supply chain addressing both spectrums the consumer relationship management and the supply chain management. Moreover, this paper will also draw upon various companies strategic internet successes as examples. The Beginnings of the Internet Revolution Similar to the Industrial Revolution, where growth was predominately spurred by standardized mechanical interfaces, breaking down procedures into many mini-procedures (Fordism), the Internet Revolution is being stimulated by the standardization of interchangeable business processes (Cucuzza and Cherian 2001, p. 3). The interchangeable business processes are the digital interfaces between e-business tools and the internet. These tools are derived from the improvements in technology, from the storage of digital data to digital information (Cucuzza and Cherian 2001). E-Business. The buzzword E-business has emerged as a new strategic initiative for companies to pursue. E-business can be defined as buying and selling over digital media, and includes both front- and back-office applications to maximize customer value (Kalakota 1999, p4). With increased pressures on companies to perform and ensure quarterly growth, senior management has implemented numerous past initiatives including downsizing, re-organizing, and re-engineered processes to cut costs. Utilizing the benefits of technology to exploit the power of e-business allows for senior management to transform the existing business models. As popular as the internet medium has become for on-line shopping for consumers it is not a perfect system. Consumers are unable to touch, smell, or try on products. They may not be able to determine the quality of products, or how some products may compliment others (for example, ensuring the correct speakers are used for a specific amplifier). Although e-retailers do provide quality reports and analysis, it is not the same as experiencing the sound itself. In addition, payments are electronic and have been prone to security flaws, and the delivery of the goods has been cumbersome at times. These difficulties have become a norm for many e-retailers to develop a sustainable business, however with the use of technology they have been able to create advantages that may not be found within the norms of traditional shopping. Marketing of E-retailers On-line shopping has numerous benefits to the consumers, it reduces time and is more convenient to shop from the luxury of your own home, and provides the consumer with the ability to compare prices, products, and availability. However, although this constitutes an opportunity for retailers, it is also a challenge. The critical success factors include i.) use of customer databases; ii. ) easy ordering and; iii. ) quick delivery (Agrawal, Singh, p. 1538). With the notion that buying on-line is convenient, consumers expect e-retailer websites to be very useful and efficient. With the usage of technology, E-retailers have developed websites that are very informative, and easy to use. E-retailers provide information about the product, quality reports, customer reviews, comparison to substitutes, shipping rates and schedules. All the information is at the click of a button, 24 hours a day. The technology has provided the websites to be more interactive, and with better visuals. It is essential that e-retailers provide additional services including a shopping basket for consumers to keep track of goods that have been selected, and a search engine which allows the consumer to search the website quickly without going through many different internet pages. Moreover, a safe and efficient payment system is required that has data integrity. This system is known as the e-commerce paradox. E-commerce firms must be open and closed at the same time (Awad, 2004). They must be able to share information with suppliers, business to business (B2B), and with business to customers (B2C). E-retailers security includes firewalls, passwords and log-ins, and virtual private networks, as well as intrusion devices (Awad 2004, p. 405). Technology has introduced a honeypot system, which is designed to showcase an artificial environment that lure attackers into thinking they have gained access, giving time for authorities to potentially track down the intruder (Awad 2004, p. 403). Another important aspect for e-retailers to increase the likelihood of consumers purchasing on-line from their websites is Customer Relationship Management. The first step is for e-retailers to develop a strategy that will allow e-retailers to properly promote to their target market, and allow them to focus on customer requirements. However, understanding your customer needs has taken on a new avenue with advancements in technological software. Technology gains have also been demonstrated in the marketing techniques of e-retailing. The concept of buying on-line is still relatively new, and many consumers are still hesitant of it. There is nothing to stop a consumer to research on-line, and then purchase the product at an actual outlet. Research has demonstrated that brand loyalty and price elasticity are less important compared to bricks and mortar shopping as consumers are exposed to a lot of information and therefore they usually look for the best value (Agrawal and Singh, p. 1549). In many instances, a person may abandon her shopping cart in the middle of the checkout process, but for reasons unknown. Forrester Research estimates that 82% of e-retailers depend on consumers to hit the links to their websites and page view to manage the success of their websites, however only 2% of the visitors will actually purchase online (Ismretail 2002, p3). With this in mind, online intelligence has become a technical advancement to achieve. Click-stream technology allows e-retailers to ability to understand abandonment and provide them with the information to react accordingly. By analyzing clickstream data a trail of mouse clicks left by a user who visits a website a retailer can make use of details such as the number of users, where they come from, which pages are visited, the order in which they visited them, how much time was spent on each page, and where they went after your site (Ismretail 2002, p3). This information used properly can assist e-retailers in determining trends of their customers, their similar likes and dislikes, and where their websites can be improved. The information gathered can even determine if the consumer chose to go to a competitor site, and compare prices. This data allows the e-retailer to market accordingly to each individual customer. On Amazon, when an individual purchases a book the company will then analyze the purchase with other recent purchases and then promote other books that may be of interest. This is very similar to the movie Minority Report starring Tom Cruise which is set in the year 2054. There is a scene in the film that shows Cruise walking through a shopping concourse is bombarded with personal advertisements based on marketers analysis on Tom Cruises role individuality. With new technology developed over the past few years (i. e. Clickstream software), consumers will be more closely watched by sites and receiving personalized pitches based on past browsing behavior (Stone 2004, p2). This may stimulate increased purchases, and higher sales for the e-retailer, but could be looked at an infringement on the privacy of consumers. Websites now include Meta data and extensible markup language (XML), which are standards for tagging data on web searches. Although, this may be a positive factor for e-retailers to analyze consumer behavior on an individual basis, the ethical side to this comes in to question. When is it crossing the line on consumers rights? Web analytic companies are now increasingly offering their services from $30,000 to over a $100,000 a year (Stone 2004, p2). More recently, Sportsline. com has used a web analytical company to identify customers dropping out of an American football fantasy pool, which enabled Sportsline to address and improve its processes that led to an increased number of paying customers (Stone 2004, p2). Moreover, technology has led firms such as Atomz to offer advance search engines for e-retailers to attach special promotions to the searched item. PalmOne has recently used this service which has converted the number of searchers to buyers by over 60% (Stone 2004, p2). With the immense competition e-retailers face, other global websites, and the traditional brick and mortar stores, it is important that they cater to their customer needs. The traditional statement that location is everything has little value in e-retailing as all websites have equal distance to their consumers. It is therefore essential that e-retailers seek means to ensure customers return to their websites. The key factors are efficiency, personalization, socialization, and the look and feel of the site (Agrawal and Singh, p. 1537). Although, this may indicate that they may infringe on consumer privacy rights, they have used technology to their benefit to obtain information that is beneficial in making strategic decisions. However, having a strong front-end website does not guarantee success. Once the consumer initiates the first step by purchasing a product, the actual delivery of goods becomes just as important in the supply chain. Back-end System Support Once the e-retailer obtains a client, it is essential that they provide an efficient back-end system that will ensure availability, workable ordering website, and delivery on-time. Accenture international research has indicated that 1 in 4 internet purchases fail due to various reasons (Agrawal and Singh, p. 1549). In the traditional avenue of shopping, many consumers will not go back to a store if the ability to purchase items fails 25% of the time. Accenture has also stated that one of the most common reasons for this failure include that items are usually out of stock, which indicates that the front-end systems are not connected to the back-end support systems (Agrawal and Singh, p. 1549). A seamless integration of all systems, for example, implementing an Enterprise Resource System is required. This integration will allow the e-retailers to advise if the product is in stock, the expected delivery date, and substitute and compliment product availability. Moreover, systems that connect with vendors will advise the e-retailers if the products are in back-order, different characteristics of the product (size and colour) and delivery time. This connection of all information systems now provides the capability to consumers to select from a menu of shipping rates and schedules, and then be able to track the fulfillment of the order in real time. Digital Deconstruction processes have accelerated in that by creating digital interfaces between processes, companies can automate these processes to achieve scale efficiencies unattainable in the past (Cucuzza and Cherian 2001, p. 2). Studies have shown that when customers and vendors share a single system, and orders are entered once, a 75% to 90% reduction in transaction costs occur utilizing a web-based catalog. The different processes include: Preparation of purchasing requirements   Identification of potential suppliers Deliverables specification, volumes, price, delivery, transportation   Fulfillment   Receiving and holding supplies   Relationship building with suppliers (Groucutt and Griseri 2004, p180). The use of technology to improve the efficiency of the supply chain, and ensure customer satisfaction can be demonstrated using company examples. Roundpeak Although the company no longer exists, it was one of the first online retailers who used technology to manage its physical and virtual supply chain. It had partnerships with manufacturers across four countries, air cargo companies, and with warehouse, fulfillment and delivery operators. The numerous B2B partners created a need for Roundpeak to ensure that the various departments in the supply chain communicated accordingly. An online order was instantly fed to the fulfillment house, a packaging and inventory control center, and into a warehousing, inventory, and delivery data system that was accessed by all members of the supply chain. If a customer orders a product, a request to the manufacturer goes out electronically. Once it receives the goods from the manufacturer, a digital signature is sent to authorize receipt, which allows the purchase order and receipt to be matched digitally. The purchase order would then instantly be fed into the accounts payable system where funds are transferred at once. This system was known as the Electronic Bill Presentment and Payment system (EBPP). The benefits included streamlining relationships with suppliers and eliminating redundancies by inputting completed once by the consumer. (Case study developed by Pyne 2000).

External and Internal Factors Essay -- External Internal Factors Manag

External and Internal Factors There are many external and internal factors that impact the planning functions of management. We must all be mindful of these factors because they could have an enormous impact on organizations productivity. The process of assessing the external and internal factors that an organization will face can be vital to the planning function of management. One must determine a set of issues and constraints and then list the assumptions that will impact the implementation of the plan. The environmental assessment develops understanding of external and internal processes that influence the organizations success rate. The purpose of the environmental assessment is to identify and analyze the key trends, forces, and phenomena having a potential impact on the formulation and implementation of strategies. In effect, the environmental assessment attempts to prepare the organization to acclimatize to environmental changes to take advantage of opportunities and to minimize the adverse effects o f threats. Once the environmental assessment is complete, it is analyzed to prioritize issues, constraints and assumptions that could influence the planning function of management. The assessment of external factors analyze outside the physical confines of the enterprise. These factors are beyond the control of the enterprise, and could have significant impact on the planning function of management. The external assessment is performed at a worldwide level and at a metropolitan area level. At the worldwide level, the assessment includes economic trends of national and local economies, social trends, government policies of national and local influence, and technological advancements of the world at large. This includes the impact of our global market, technology advancements throughout the world, and e-business that is rapidly growing. Macro elements are analyzed to uncover issues, constraints and assumptions that could influence the integrated planning function of management. At the metropolitan area level, the assessment includes industry trends, market trends, customer expectations, competitor performance, competitive alternatives, and supplier capabilities. The internal environmental evaluation closely parallels the external evaluation of the environment. The internal evaluation requires gathering and assimilating information about the fi... ...g environment's ethics and culture, with management as its champion. When managers are champions of projects, some things get done. Also, when managers are champions of improvement programs, some more things get done. But when managers champion the culture, a much bigger thing happens. The projects, the programs, the quality journey over time, and the organization, all flourish, and the organization truly transforms itself into a higher quality organization. Because organizations operate as open systems, a relationship between external and internal forces will always exist. Managers must recognize that external and internal forces can be highly interrelated. When managers are able to identify change as well as the external and internal settings in which the change is taking place, the organization will be able to appropriately respond and adopt strategies that will enable the organization to be effective. One should always think critically, and have a mission for your company as a manager. A company without a clear understanding of our global market is a company destined to fail. Set goals for your company. Establish teams to do research and carry forth organizations visions.

The Secret to Happiness :: Happiness Essays

There is an ever-growing problem with our world; unhappiness. Unhappiness has plagued everyone at a time or two, sometimes even more. Because of this our world is suffering enormously: shootings, hate crimes, and wars are a few results of this widespread unhappiness. One might say there is no hope for our world, but there is. To end this unhappiness everyone should eat Skittles, own a goldfish, and get plenty of sunshine. One may ask, what can Skittles do? When the question should be what can not Skittles do? Not only can Skittles make you happy, they could end world hunger. But the focus right now is on ending unhappiness. Skittles, (by the author’s own scientific research) can and will make anyone 79% happier. So the next time someone is stressed out at work, fighting with their spouse, have no house, or lost their favorite shirt, don’t worry, just eat Skittles! Imagine how much happier the world would be, if instead of getting sad or upset, everyone ate Skittles and therefore made them happy. In the case of goldfish, here are some reasons why goldfish can end the world’s unhappiness. Owning a pet will lengthen your life. People who have the responsibility of the care of an animal can have lower blood p-pressure and fewer diseases. Goldfish make excellent pets because they are easy to care for, interesting and friendly, and won’t talk back. What more proof does one need? Imagine if everyone could have lower blood pressure, fewer diseases, and a friend who will keep every secret! Well, everyone can, if they buy goldfish. These animals, when cared for correctly, and with the frequent consumption of Skittles, can make the world happy again. Now, the last way to make everyone happy, is by making sure the world gets plenty of sunshine. Sunshine is vital in the life of human beings. It is recommended for everyone to get at least fifteen minutes of sunshine a day. Since sunshine is a required bodily function, there is no excuse for not getting any. Not only is it required, but sunshine is the best reason to be outside. One can go swimming, on a picnic, or eat Skittles in the sunshine.

Recruitment and Selection Strategies Essay

Summary: The recruitment and selection strategies that a company chooses are vital to the success of a business. Recruitment and selection strategies just thrown together are likely to fail. This is why a new business, such as Landslide Limousine must define the necessary criteria for recruitment and selection processes that will support its employee selections. This criterion will include hiring an adequate and qualified staff, a commitment to fair employment practices, and pre-employment standards to include background and reference checks. To determine the criteria for these requirements, the company’s organizational goals, the forecasted demographic changes, analyze workforce needs, workforce diversity objectives, organizational branding, and the methods needed for recruiting, screening, and selecting the proper candidates will be looked at. By assessing these areas we will be able to provide Landslide Limousine effective strategies for the recruitment and selection of personnel to provide a high quality and reliable service to its customers. We will also need to take into account that Landslide Limousine is a new company moving into Austin, Texas, and will need to follow local, state, and federal laws for the area in the employment processes. Organizational Goals Mr. Stonefield has set a goal for his company Landslide Limousine to be the  best limo service in Austin, Texas. He plans on hiring up to 25 employees within the first year with only a 10% turnover rate. He does expect to have a net annual revenue of -$50,000 for the first year, but an annual expected revenue growth of -5% for future years. To meet these goals there needs to be the right employees in place that will â€Å"buy in† to the company. These employees will understand the vision that Mr. Stonefield wishes for his company and want to help him reach it. Forecasted Demographic Changes Landslide Limousine is expecting to have a high turnover rate the first year. To keep the business going successfully it is necessary for the individuals hired to help out in other areas when needed. For this to be accomplished, the applicants need to be qualified in a variety of areas. The company will also need to think ahead and hire individuals who might be bilingual because of the proximity of Austin, Texas, to the Mexico border. An applicant who is not bilingual should not be dissuaded from applying, it would just be an added benefit for the company. Analysis of Workforce Needs Landslide Limousine will employ up to 25 people within the first year these employees will include customer service representatives, dispatchers, drivers, HR assistants, and managers. Customer service representatives will handle the calls from customers and potential customers. They will be the frontline to the business and must have high customer service qualities. Dispatchers will convey information that the customer service representative gathers to the drivers about where and when to pick up and drop off clients. Drivers will drive the customers to their locations in an efficient professional manner. HR assistants will help the manager in making sure that the company is following the applicable local, state, and federal employment laws and help handle any HR related issues with the employees. A manager will oversee the rest of the employees and ensure that the company is maintaining its perspective on the company’s goals and objectives. Workforce Diversity Objectives Landslide Limousine’s success will depend on its ability to hire qualified  candidates from a diverse pool of applicants. For this reason the hiring individual must be familiar with equal employment opportunity laws, fair employment practices related to the recruiting and hiring processes, and employment eligibility that allow an individual to work in the United States. The last is especially important with Austin, Texas, close to the Mexico border the immigration laws must be strictly adhered to (â€Å"Do your applicants,† n.d.). This will ensure that the employees have the proper credentials necessary for employment in the United States. Organizational Branding Mr. Stonefield wants his company to be the best there is in Austin, Texas. To do this he must ensure that his goals and visions for the company meet the needs of his consumers. He will also need to ensure that the employees hired are a good fit for the company and the image that he wishes to portray. In this type of industry, the contact made with the customer is a big influence on how he or she perceives the company. If there is a choice between attitude and skills, the individual with the correct attitude toward customer service should win out every time. Work skills are something that can be taught with training, customer service skills have to do with the attitude that an individual has and how he or she can handle situations with customers effectively. Methods for Recruiting Candidates This will be a key component in an effective recruitment and selection process. The methods for recruiting candidates will be from several sources. We cannot use internal sources at this time because the company is just starting up in the Austin, Texas, area. This is something that will be considered for future job openings in the company. For the initial job openings the sources will be external, and the areas to consider are newspaper advertisements, state employment services, job fairs, and using word of mouth. These methods will bring in applicants who may have the experience needed for the line of work the company is looking to fill. Another area to consider would be online job-related sites such as carreerbuilder.com and monster.com. Networking through professional organizations and keeping an eye out for changes among the competition as  also very useful. The company must know exactly what type of applicant they are looking for before advertising the positions and accepting resumes (Richason IV, n.d.). One last area to consider would be a temp service agency that specializes in providing other companies employees who will work for them on a temporary basis. These employees are hired by the temp service agency to meet the requirements requested by the company. By hiring through a temp agency, the screening and selecting of candidates is completed by them. Employees hired by this type of agency do have the opportunity to be hired as a permanent employee of the company. Methods for Screening Candidates The company needs to ensure the individual doing the hiring is knowledgeable in equal employment opportunity laws and affirmative action provisions pertaining to the position. This is the first opportunity in the recruitment and selection processes that an employer can express his or her commitment to equal opportunity. This is a critical part of any effective recruitment and selection process. When screening applicants for a position the reviewer must look for suitable qualifications. These are the experience of the applicant, his or her credentials, educational requirements for the position, and the presentation of his or her qualifications. A quick review of applications and resumes can help a company identify qualified applicants by looking for key words. Interview Methods Once the applicants have been narrowed down, the individual doing the hiring can conduct preliminary phone interviews. These phone interviews or screening interviews will describe to the applicant in more detail the job position and requirements, assess the applicants communication skills, review his or her work history, and to determine if he or she is interested in a face-to-face interview. The face-to-face interview is the most common interview method, which involves the applicant and the interviewer meeting face-to-face in an office. These interviews can be behavioral, situational, structured, and  unstructured or a combination thereof. A behavioral interview will typically ask an applicant to explain his or her work experience, skills, and activities as examples of his or her past behavior. A situational interview will ask questions about hypothetical events. The applicant is asked how he or she would react in a particular situation. A structured interview has a standard set of questions that are asked of every applicant. An unstructured interview adapts the questions based on the applicant’s intelligence, understanding and answers. It is recommended that these different types of face-to-face interviews be melded into one for Landslide Limousine. The interviewer should have some structured questions to ask of all applicants, unstructured questions based on the interviewees understanding and answers. Behavioral and situational questions will ask the interviewee questions based on his or her past behavior and questions based on hypothetical events. Testing Procedures There are several types of tests that can be administered. Cognitive tests will test reasoning, memory, math skills, reading comprehension, and knowledge of a job or function. Personality and integrity tests will determine if an individual has certain traits or dispositions and will predict if the individual will engage in certain types of conduct. Medical examinations are required by the Department of Transportation to carry a commercial drivers license (CDL) and in Austin, Texas, a CDL is required to drive a limousine. Drug testing required for every employee before and during employment. Also criminal background checks are recommended because of the nature of business the company does. These tests should be administered without regard to color, race, sex, national origin, age, religion, or disability (â€Å"Employment tests and,† 2010). Before giving a test for pre-employment there are a few things that need to established to ensure that the test is legally defensible. These things are to make sure that the right tests are given and that the company has certified the tests validity and reliability. A valid test must measure the criteria needed for predicting job performances. It also must be reliable, which means that the test must measure an item consistently or that an individual’s score should be close to the same every time it is  taken. Because employment testing can be challenged in court, the company needs to make sure that the tests do not violate any local, state, or federal Equal Employment Opportunity Laws, including Title VII (Quast, 2011). There are several laws that need to be considered when administering these tests. They are the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA), the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), and the Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII). The use of these tests and applicant selection procedures are prohibited if they are discriminatory. Avoid questions of a personal nature or ones that may be considered offensive. Also the company should not just rely on these test results to choose the right candidate for the position (â€Å"Employment tests and,† 2010). Interview Process Considerations Interviews are scheduled when the hiring individual has free uninterrupted time. This allows them the opportunity to review the resume and conduct an informational interview with the applicant. Refrain from focusing on his or her credentials or experience. The interviewer needs to present hypothetical scenarios to the applicant and ask how he or she would evaluate and solve the problem. Listen to his or her responses without interrupting and make notes on the key points of the conversation (Richason IV, n.d.). Methods for Selecting Candidates The methods used for selecting the right candidates for the positions will be varied, depending on the position applied for. The interviews and tests will be a consideration for positions needing filled. The notes taken during the interview process will be compared to the applicants resume to see if anything was missed. The selections will be based on how competently he or she answered the questions and the questions that were asked by him or her during the interview. The limousine driver position needs a valid commercial driver’s license for the state of Texas, and is a requirement for working in the Austin, Texas, area. Applicants who do not ask questions are either uninterested in working for the company or shy and therefore might not be a good fit for the company (Richason IV, n.d.). Conclusion The recommendations that have been made will ensure the continued success of the company. The company’s organizational goals, forecasted demographic changes, workforce needs and diversity objectives, organizational branding, and the methods needed for recruiting, screening, and selecting candidates have been considered in the development of this plan. The recruitment and selection process must adhere to local, state, and federal laws to ensure compliance and avoid legal issues. By following these recommendations Landslide Limousine will hire an adequate and qualified staff while ensuring a commitment to fair employment practices and pre-employment standards. References Do your applicants have the right to work in the u.s.?. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.firstchoiceresearch.com/docs/I-9 Employment Eligibility.pdf Quast, L. (2011, September 13). [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/lisaquast/2011/09/13/pre-employment-testing-a-helpful-way-for-companies-to-screen-applicants/2/ Richason IV, O. E. (n.d.). Methods of recruitmant and selection. Retrieved from http://smallbusiness.chron.com/methods-recruitment-selection-2532.html The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, (2010). Employment tests and selection procedures. Retrieved from website: http://www.eeoc.gov/policy/docs/factemployment_procedures.html

Comparison Essay on “Dead Souls” and “Taras Bulba”

I. The great achievement of prose of the XIX century (from the 1840s to the 1890s) was Russian Realism, which is represented by many great Russian writers and Nikolai Gogol is not the last in this list. It is often mentioned that after 1830 Pushkin turned more and more to prose, although being the greatest poet of the time. However, the writer who established really innovating novelistic and narrative tradition in Russian literary culture was Gogol. Gogol's example, combined with the authoritative literary pronouncements of the greatest literary critic of the period, V. G. Belinsky, proved prose to be the literary medium of the future. Later, the great Russian novelist   (and not the worst philosopher of religious thought) Dostoevsky have said, referring to himself and his fellow Realists, â€Å"We have all come out from under Gogol's â€Å"Overcoat†Ã¢â‚¬  (meaning the famous story by Gogol, â€Å"Shynel† or Overcoat).Vladimir Nabokov highly esteemed Gogol as a grea t Russian (in no case Ukrainian, he is sure, in spite of the fact that Nikolaj Gogol-Ianovski originates from Ukraine, Mirgorod, and his world outlook is obviously marked by Ukrainian national tradition) novelist, dramatist, satirist, and founder of the so-called critical realism in Russian literature, best-known for his novel â€Å"Mertvye Dushy† (1842, Dead Souls). Praising the imaginative power and linguistic playfulness of the writer’s latest works (â€Å"Shynel† or Overcoat, â€Å"Mertvye Dushy† etc), Nabokov states that Gogol is everything but the romantic folklore novelist.Actually, there can be defined two main periods in Gogol’s writing: conservative romantic and vernacular idealism of the Ukrainian past (which we find in Evenings on a Farm near Dikanka and Taras Bulba) and the next evolutionary period of modernistic urban life reflection with all its psychological abnormality and deviations. If to believe Nabokov, in the mature age Gogol was ashamed of the playful artificialness of his early works; and as for the famous Russian critic, it is a dreadful nightmare even to imagine Gogol scribbling Ukrainian folkloristic novels volume by volume†¦ Had he chosen this path, the world would have never heard his name. So, let’s compare these two antagonistic periods of Gogol’s writing corresponding to the most vividly representative works of his: â€Å"Taras Bulba† and â€Å"Dead Souls†.II. Evenings on a Farm near Dikanka, the book of Ukrainian folklore stories, which appeared in 1831-32, was Gogol's breakthrough work (Gogol had greatly admired Pushkin, and he used in this work the same narrative device as Pushkin did in his Tales of Belkin). It showed his skill in mixing fantastic and demonic ideas of his people with macabre, and at the same time he said something crucial about the Russian and Ukrainian (ignoring Nabokov’s imperialistic snobbism, it is important to mark Gogol’s Ukrainian roots) character. After failure as an assistant lecturer of world history at the University of St. Petersburg (1834-35), Gogol became a full-time writer. Under the title Mirgorod (1835) Gogol published a new collection of his stories, also inspired by Ukrainian vernacular culture, beginning with â€Å"Old-World Landowners†, which described the decay of the old way of life.The book also included the famous historical tale (poem in prose) â€Å"Taras Bulba†, which according to many literary critics showed the influence of W.Scott and L.Stern. However, it is rather ignorant not to take into account the original Ukrainian novelistic tradition, which is widely based on folklore (Gulak-Artemovski, Kvitka-Osnovjanenko and many other writers of Ukrainian romanticism are evidently folkloristic). The protagonist of â€Å"Taras Bulba† is a strong, heroic character, absolutely non-typical for Gogol’s later cavalcade of bureaucrats, lunatics, swindlers, and losers, numerously represented on the pages of â€Å"Dead Souls†.In 1569, dominion over the right-coast Ukraine passed to Poland.   The Polish lords (lyahy) promptly tried stamping out Ukrainian culture by savagely exploiting the peasantry, outlawing the Ukrainian language and imposing Catholicism (Unia) and Papal supremacy on the Orthodox population.   In response, Ukrainian male peasants flocked to join the military groups known as the Cossacks. They founded the Zaporizhian Sitch on the Hortycya Island.The Cossacks, essentially a wild cross between mercenary crusaders and highwaymen,  became the focus of resistance to the Poles, the Turks and the Crimean Tatars. Gogol’s novel tells the story of the old and wise warrior Taras Bulba who, with his sons Ostap and Andrij, sallies forth to join the Sitch. Gogol's incontestably romantic adventure was as much a propaganda piece for his own time as an elegy for a way of life that had passed.   In â€Å"Taras Bulbaâ €  we meet conservative Gogol, who has just arrived to Petersburg and is not yet sophisticated in the city life. He is shocked by the corruption and moral decay of the city dwellers. He craves for the Golden Age of his people’s history and this age, he thinks, was the glorious times of the Zaporizhian Sitch.â€Å"Taras Bulba† is a remarkable example of the early romantic Gogol (if to call Gogol the writer’s texts). However, this novel works on both levels (historical and pshycological, more typical for the later Gogol’s works) and is surely one of the most exciting masterpieces in world literature.  Set sometime between the mid-sixteenth and early-seventeenth century, Gogol’s epic tale recounts both a bloody Cossack revolt against the Poles (led by the bold Taras Bulba of Ukrainian folk mythology) and the trials of Taras Bulba’s two sons. As Robert Kaplan (translator) writes, â€Å"[Taras Bulba] has a Kiplingesque gusto . . . that make s it a pleasure to read, but central to its theme is an unredemptive, darkly evil violence that is far beyond anything that Kipling ever touched on. We need more works like Taras Bulba to better understand the emotional wellsprings of the threat we face today in places like the Middle East and Central Asia.† (Jane Grayson and Faith Wigzell; p.18).And the critic John Cournos has noted, â€Å"A clue to all Russian realism may be found in a Russian critic’s observation about Gogol: ‘Seldom has nature created a man so romantic in bent, yet so masterly in portraying all that is unromantic in life.’(The Rise of Prose: Nikolai Gogol). But this statement does not cover the whole ground, for it is easy to see in almost all of Gogol’s work his â€Å"free Cossack soul† trying to break through the wall of gloomy and non-heroic ‘today’ like some ancient demon, essentially Dionysian. So, through the years, this novel sounds at once as a reproa ch, a protest, and a challenge, ever calling for joy, ancient joy, that is no more with us.This wide interpretation lies far beyond previously often-uttered accusation of vernacular populist romanticism. Nikolai Gogol searched for the joy and sadness in the Ukrainian songs he loved so much. Ukrainian was to Gogol the language of the soul, and it was in Ukrainian songs rather than in old chronicles, of which he was not a little contemptuous, that he read the history of his people. So, here in this novel the writer’s intention is not the historical but rather the psychological picture of his people. Hence no one (even Nabokov) has the right to accuse Gogol of Ukrainian culture profanation as if following the modern literary trend of his time.Indeed, so great was his enthusiasm for his own land that after collecting material for many years, the year 1833 finds him at work on a history of ‘poor Ukraine’, a work planned to take up six volumes; and writing to a friend at this time he promises to say much in it that has not been said before him. However, Gogol never wrote either his history of Little Russia (Malorosiya) or his universal history, he didn’t become Ukrainian Balzac but is often called Ukrainian Goffman or Poe.Apart from several brief studies not always reliable, the result of his many years application to his scholarly projects was this brief epic in prose, Homeric in mood (The Rise of Prose: Nikolai Gogol). The sense of intense living, ‘living dangerously† – to cite Nietzsche – the recognition of courage as the greatest virtue, the God in man, inspired Gogol, living in times which tended toward grey monotony, with admiration for his more fortunate forefathers, who lived in a poetic time, when everything was won with the sword, when every one in his turn strove to be an active being and not a spectator. In â€Å"Taras Bulba† we find the people of action, and â€Å"Dead Souls† gives us th e gallery of people of things.Russia! Russia! I see you now, from my wondrous, beautiful past I behold you! How wretched, dispersed and uncomfortable everything is about you†¦(Nikolai Gogol)III. Gogol began working on â€Å"Dead Souls† in 1835. The plot and the main idea of the story was suggested to Gogol by Pushkin who seemed to have understood Gogol as a writer quite well. Pushkin felt that the idea of a man travelling all over the Russian Impire buying up the ownership rights to serfs who had died (‘mertvye dushy’) would allow Gogol to make at once the literary success. In fact, it was an opportunity to introduce a multitude of characters, varied settings, mountains of detail, and the scope within which to be able to elaborate the anecdotal story of the work to his heart's content and to reveal all the sins of his contemporary. Gogol had big ideas of becoming a scriptor of his age a sort of Balzac†¦For the next six years, he devoted almost all of hi s creative energy to â€Å"Dead Souls†. His compulsive craftsmanship is evident in that the entire work was revised at least five times; the author stated that some passages had been rewritten as many as twenty times. He felt that this novel should be his best one.Unfortunately, only the first part of Dead Souls, twelve chapters in all, was completed by Gogol. The second part, as we know it, (some chapters of which are often published with the first part) is a recreation from various sources of what Gogol might have done with the continuation of his work. Influenced by the fanatical priest Father Konstantinovskii, he burned what he actually had already written for the second part of the novel just nine days before his death.The situation from which the novel develops is based upon a scheme which theoretically was possible in Gogol's day. The government had a policy of loaning money to landowners, feeling that this class was its strongest support. Lands owned, however, were me asured not in acres, but by the number of â€Å"souls† (serfs, or here, mertvye dushy) residing on them. De facto, landowners were serf owners†¦ The government was ready to accept the land (that is, the serfs) of an individual as collateral for a loan. Thus, a method was required by which the holdings of an individual landowner could be established at any given time.This method stated that an individual possessed the number of ‘souls’ recorded as such that belong to him/her in the most recent population census. The census was taken every ten years, which meant that near the end of the ten-year cycle almost every landowner would have some serfs who were not recorded in the preceding census because they had recently been born, and some serfs still recorded even though they had died long ago since the last census. In â€Å"Dead Souls†, the main character, Chichikov, schemes to buy from the serf holders a number of those â€Å"souls† who had died b ut were still counted as living until the next census. An absurd situation becomes possible: dead souls are sold as being alive people, which ar estil able to work. â€Å"It's cheap at the price.A rogue would cheat you, sell you some worthless rubbish instead of souls, but mine are as juicy as ripe nuts, all picked – they are all either craftsmen or sturdy peasants†, – Sobakievich boasts to his weird buyer (Gogol, Nikolai Vasilievich). Once Chichikov had a number of such souls, he would apply to the government bank for a loan, using the â€Å"souls† as his collateral. With this low-interest loan in hand he would then buy and work an actual country estate, eventually paying back the loan and purchasing living souls to work the land. Well, passing the whole plot, it is imporatnt to state Gogol’s idea of small marginal people actually decaying in their small towns and farms. The Russia of small towns is the country of odd and irreversibly narrow-minde d people. What Gogol proves is that these small landowners are actually dead†¦ They have burried themselves alive in their dirty stinking flea-bitten houses.Contrudicting the wide-sprea yet contested idea of Gogol’s evolution as a writer, it is possible to say that either completing histoical heroic plot or conveying contemporary decayed society, Gogol’s intention stays the same – to show the depth of a human soul and how this soul can be filled with live brightness of heroism or by dead wickedness and miserable oddity. Bibliography Gogol, Nikolai Vasilievich. Taras Bulba and Other Tales. Electronic Text Center, University of Virginia Library// http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/toc/modeng/public/GogTara.htmlNikolay Gogol: Text and Context, ed. by Jane Grayson and Faith Wigzell (1989).N. V. Nabokov: Nicolai Gogol, 1944.The Rise of Prose: Nikolai Gogol// http://www1.umn.edu/lol-russ/hpgary/Russ3421/lesson6.htm

My Childhood Memories Essay

It’s considered that childhood memory is special for everybody because it’s very personal. I can’t imagine my childhood without reminding the time that I’ve spent at our summer cottage. I can even say that it’s the most precious time in my life. It’s situated in half an hour from city by the most beautiful sea that I’ve ever seen in my life. Unfortunately we sold it 6 years ago, and maybe that is why I appreciate it so much, people always desires what they’ve lost and aren’t able to get back for going through it again. I still clearly remember us, me, my aunt and my granny, going there every summer for a holiday. And with every new word that I write into this essay I remind new shots from that what we’ve got through there together. We used to spend there 3 months of summer. We went there to spend my birthday and stayed till the study year begins. My mother came to visit me every weekends and I used to show her everything new I’ve found around there. But there is a thing which about I will regret all the rest of my life. It is the time that I’ve spent with my aunt. If I only could I’d give everything to return these days even though for couple hours. Everything we did we did together, everything I had to share I shared with her and she treated the same way with me. One of the best things I remember is how we went to the seaside everyday. It took us 15 minutes to walk there and we spend nearly whole day there. I liked to go there with her very much; we’ve had so much fun together. Well, also one of the reasons was my friend Tima, 6 years older than me, very cute and kind guy. He was at sixth class when he left the school to find a job at the building construction to help his mother financially. We met every summer during 5 years. I miss his friendship very much now. The whole woods of the world won’t be enough for me to describe all the good things we had because of they all were such a people and it was such a place that I even can’t remember anything bad. I was 12 when my parents sold the cottage. I believe my childhood ended that day.

An analysis of the policies introduced by the Office of the Mayor of Essay

An analysis of the policies introduced by the Office of the Mayor of London - Essay Example The GLA has power deliberated to perform duties in various parts of the city (Greater London Authority 2012). It has four bodies that range from the London Development agency, The Metropolitan police authority, which is in charge of security in the city, The Emergency planning authority that deals with the disaster, and the London fire brigade. The role of the mayor of London The mayor of London`s job basically ranges from developing policies, setting budgets, as well as ensuring that London is well marketed globally. The mayor has powers and duties to ensure that there is absolute promotion of both the economic social and environmental improvement (Greater London Authority 2012). That is perhaps what may be termed as â€Å"improving London for all†. Before putting any of his powers into action, the mayor has to first consult the city dwellers. Consequently, he must ensure that equality for all citizens is achieved. Being a mayor in London, means one is also in charge of all p olicies and plans for city. This covers all aspects ranging from panning, development, housing, health injustices, culture and other environmental issues including climate changes, noise pollution and health quality too. On improving London, the mayor has to set up budgets that must project the visions that improve London; this makes him to come up with the annual budget for the Greater London Authority and the entire GLA group, this includes the metropolitan police, fire brigade, transportation in London and the London Development agency (Great Britain: Parliament House of Commons: Justice Committee 2009). In addition to his duties, he holds executive positions, as well as non-executive ones, in different organizations. The need for reforms in housing policy The mayor argues that London has got the need to have better and quality housing delivered to the citizens. Due to long term housing pressure in London, it is evident that many have failed to meet the increasing demand of the r esidents in London. With this in mind, it is clear that the quality of life for London citizens have been clearly undermined especially for those who cannot afford the high rents for home in the open market. Despite the number of households registering as homeless decreasing over the years, the number of temporary accommodations has been increasing too. This leads to recording of two thirds of the total households in London. Over 150,000 household in London are overcrowded, this is more than half the total number nationwide. This means that overcrowding rates are now higher as compared to the private rented tenancies. The policies put in place would only do more harm than good because the estimated growth of the population would only increase to 80,000 by 2016 thus creating demand for over 300,000 households. Although the current new housing output is around 270000 new homes every year, only half of them can be affordable. Perhaps, that is why the London housing requirement study ha s identified a need to have 35000 increments of new homes yearly so as to meet the needs as per the projected growth (Greater London Authority 2012). According to the London Housing Capacity, there is enough land that can accommodate more than 31000 new homes every year. However, the significant increase in housing investments over the years means