Metabolism and Stress Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Metabolism and Stress - Assignment Example Adrenalin acts on fat cells thereby converting them to glucose for energy. Cortisol also increases amount of glucose in blood. Both these functions are at peak during stress conditions. Therefore, prolonged stressed conditions lead to excess release of energy and glucose. If the stress is not physical then this energy is not used, which eventually gets converted to fat and is deposited within the body. Excess fat also causes obesity and other metabolic dysfunctions, which in turn impact the mental status of the individual. These symptoms precede depression, anxiety disorder and eating disorders (Tafet, 2001). Metabolic dysfunction caused due to stress leads to higher glucose levels in the body, and the normal body may not be able to metabolize high levels of glucose through the available insulin in the body. This eventually leads to insulin resistance, causing diabetes. High levels of adrenalin and cortisol are also associated with thyroid dysfunction which is responsible for the metabolic functions of various other organs and glands. Combating these issues requires mobilization of the constantly produced glucose and energy in case of chronic stress. This requires physical activity in the form of exercise, meditation or other regulative physical activity which help in expending the excess glucose and fat produced as a result of increased adrenal activity in stressed conditions (Haskell et al,

Interest Groups and Government Policies Essay Example for Free

Interest Groups and Government Policies Essay Interest groups help communicate and legitimize government policies in several ways. As instability is sure to attract political activity[1], it also attracts interest groups to meddle in such political activity. When certain government policies conflict with the specific interests of these groups, they can call the attention of the government through public demonstrations or protests. They can also use mass media to inform the general public about their views on certain government policies, thereby communicating not only their position on the issues involved but also the government policies being addressed. On the other hand, when certain government policies support the interests of these groups, they can further enhance the legitimacy of such policies by conducting a public forum designed to increase the public’s awareness on such policies, thereby gathering more public support. Even without interest groups, communicating and legitimating government policies can still be achieved. For the most part, people can still organize themselves without holding a collective interest other than the inclination to either support or protest an existing government policy. Since a more developed country is most likely populated by more interest groups[2], governments faced with the task of issuing specific policies in order to foster economic growth are most likely to face opposition from certain interest groups who oppose such policies. One example is when a government decides to issue a policy of free trade in response to the need of increasing the country’s trading activities so as to stimulate the economy. Interest groups opposing the government policy of free trade can stage demonstrations in public locations. Doing so can increase their chances of being heard by the government and, in consequence, compelling the government to adjust its policies accordingly. At the same time, these interest groups will openly communicate to the public the reasons why they oppose the policy without forcing them to join their cause. At the least, public demonstrations serve the purpose of informing the public and the government that a sector of the society opposes certain government policies. Mass media plays a key role in communicating the views of interest groups towards government policies. Since individuals interact with issues emphasized in media coverage[3], there is reason to believe that interest groups can reach and influence public perception through mass media in general. Interest groups can publish their articles through paid newspaper column space on a specific date of issue that they feel will have a lasting and strong impression on readers. Interest groups opposing specific provisions in government policies on healthcare, for instance, can pay for a space in a major newspaper where they can state their reasons for opposing the provisions and the alternatives that can be done. The method will most likely reach a large part of the population due to the large circulation of a major newspaper, thereby informing a broad segment of the public. Television and radio shows also provide avenues for interest groups to communicate to the public their position on government policies. For example, an interest group opposing the existing government policy on carbon emissions can either make a request to television networks to provide them with a show where they can air their views or accept invitations for discussions or interviews on television. Whether or not these interest groups are able to convince the viewing public, it is likely that they are still able to communicate a portion of the substance of the government policy on carbon emissions. On the other hand, interest groups can also legitimize government policies, especially those that are aligned with their concerns. One way of achieving it is to conduct a public forum where people can participate or simply listen to discussions about the policies. For instance, interest groups can hold a public forum in the town hall and discuss immediate concerns regarding the current government policy on immigration. With the immigration policy favoring their side, these interest groups can disseminate the information about the benefits of the policy which can eventually translate to more public support. Since the key principle is that the people is the source of the government’s power, public discussions conducted by interest groups which are able to gather public support for government policies further legitimize such policies. The pressure of interest groups to their Congressional Representatives can also legitimize government policies. Letters to Congressional Representatives coming from interest groups can help inform these representatives that a portion of their constituents are in support of a government policy that the representative may or may not actually favor. Through such letters, interest groups can put a pressure on their dissenting representatives to favor the government policy regardless of political affiliations. Signature campaigns when taken together with letters to Congressional Representatives can add more weight to the support given to government policies, giving these representatives more reason to align their positions with the public perception. Nevertheless, government policies can be communicated or legitimized to a certain degree despite the absence of interest groups. Other ways to achieve the goal of communicating and legitimizing government policies include signature campaigns, public dialogue with government officials and infomercials sponsored by the government. Through the initiative of a few individuals, signature campaigns can be launched in support of or opposition to certain government policies. Signature campaigns of this nature do not necessarily require the leadership of interest groups since private individuals can also gather public signatures even without an affiliation to any specific interest group. The purpose is to simply gather signatures as many as possible without attempting to form a formal group out of the total number of participants. Public dialogue with government officials can also be a way to inform the public about government policies. The dialogue can be sponsored by the office of the concerned government official or the local members of the community. Through dialogue, government officials are able to discuss in detail the purpose and nature of certain government policies. People are also given the chance to ask relevant questions to the government official whose response can further inform the public. Airing infomercials over the television or radio is also a way for the government to communicate its policies to the public and to further show the legitimacy of such policies. Since an infomercial is basically a â€Å"one-way† type of communication, it can simply inform the public about government policies at best. Government policies communicated to the public through radio or television infomercials are already assumed to be legitimate; the government is presumed to disseminate information about government policies that are lawful and approved by the concerned government agency. Despite the possibility of communicating and legitimating government policies in the absence of interest groups, it is better if interest groups are still able to challenge or reaffirm government policies especially when taken in the context of a democratic society. The presence of interest groups can indicate the health of the political activity in any country. In their absence, the legislature and the government in general may possibly overlook vital social and political concerns or abuse their power to create and enforce policies. Bibliography Bischoff, Ivo. â€Å"Determinants of the Increase in the Number of Interest Groups in Western Democracies: Theoretical Considerations and Evidence from 21 OECD Countries.† Public Choice 114, no. 1/2 (2003): 197-218. Domke, David, Dhavan V. Shah, and Daniel B. Wackman. â€Å"Rights and Morals, Issues, and Candidate Integrity: Insights into the Role of the News Media.† Political Psychology 21, no. 4 (2000): 641-65. Levmore, Saul. â€Å"Voting Paradoxes and Interest Groups.† The Journal of Legal Studies 28, no. 2 (1999): 259-81.

Colonial Discourse in Jane Eyre :: Essays Papers

Colonial Discourse in Jane Eyre The plot of Jane Eyre is well known and it is not my intention to outline it here. Instead I want to draw attention to a number of key points which relate to the theme of colonies and colonialism. The figure of the first Mrs Rochester, the insane and promiscuous Creole who stands in the way of Rochester's marriage to the modest Jane is the most obvious example of Bronte's use of the colonies to provide the material for her work, but there are other moments of interaction throughout the novel. As a child, Jane is fond of likening her position to that of a slave, but Bronte distances her character from the slavetrade in the West Indies by placing the model for Jane's slavery in the Far East, where England has no hand in the business. The slave metaphor is repeated throughout the novel to describe the position of women in British society, but it is always distanced. When Jane eventually comes into her inheritance from her uncle, the source of her wealth is Madeira, another slave society. Jane acts in an honourable fashion by dividing her wealth with her cousins who saved her, but the means of her independance is undeniably due to the colonies. The treatment of India is important in this context. St. John Rivers wants Jane to join him as his wife on a missionary expedition to India, but Jane sees the discipline and severity of his character as too stifling for her to thrive in. The implication is that she would revert to her former slave position under his influence. But Jane recognises that although his discipline is too much for her, he will do extremely well in India, perhaps indicating that the Indians are in need of such a severe influence to keep them under control. Colonial Discourse in Jane Eyre :: Essays Papers Colonial Discourse in Jane Eyre The plot of Jane Eyre is well known and it is not my intention to outline it here. Instead I want to draw attention to a number of key points which relate to the theme of colonies and colonialism. The figure of the first Mrs Rochester, the insane and promiscuous Creole who stands in the way of Rochester's marriage to the modest Jane is the most obvious example of Bronte's use of the colonies to provide the material for her work, but there are other moments of interaction throughout the novel. As a child, Jane is fond of likening her position to that of a slave, but Bronte distances her character from the slavetrade in the West Indies by placing the model for Jane's slavery in the Far East, where England has no hand in the business. The slave metaphor is repeated throughout the novel to describe the position of women in British society, but it is always distanced. When Jane eventually comes into her inheritance from her uncle, the source of her wealth is Madeira, another slave society. Jane acts in an honourable fashion by dividing her wealth with her cousins who saved her, but the means of her independance is undeniably due to the colonies. The treatment of India is important in this context. St. John Rivers wants Jane to join him as his wife on a missionary expedition to India, but Jane sees the discipline and severity of his character as too stifling for her to thrive in. The implication is that she would revert to her former slave position under his influence. But Jane recognises that although his discipline is too much for her, he will do extremely well in India, perhaps indicating that the Indians are in need of such a severe influence to keep them under control.

The Person Who Inspires Me

Do I Still Have Any Reason to Live? By: darol_maranan_07 Name? Girolene Garcia. Everyone calls me Gigi. Not only because it’s my first name, but also becuse it’s what my initials spell out. 16 years of age. I guess it will end in that number. I’m about to die anyway†¦ I shall cut myself with this razor, or maybe yet jump from the top of this establishment! Do I still have any reason to live? Everyone sees me as worthless woman of this world. They say I have never done anythind good. Depressing, isn’t it? Why should I carry this heavy burden all throughout my entire life?Living in this world is like being subjected to eternal damnation. You want to know why it turned out like this?†¦ By looking at your baffled expressions, I can see that you desire to know about my decision in termination this life of mine. Well, Sir and Madam†¦ please listen carefully to the story of my life. People brand me as a juvenile delinquent. I am merely a teenager. Young in both mind and body. Vulnerable to mistakes and immaturity. In my current state, I am carefree. I swim in the pool of pleasure. I rarely go to school. You could easily spot me at the nearby street at Pauntum.Smoking, singing in the videoke machine or just looking at the cute guyspassing by. Parents? Hmmm. They exist? I don’t even know that thry’re there. There was this time when I asked Mom about my science assignment. She answered â€Å"(God) Damn it! Can’t you see I’m busy preparing for my Tong-its?! † Yes, she was always busy with Mahjong,Tong-its. Those kinds of games†¦ I asked Dad the same question. He answered â€Å"ngrrrhhh Here’s ahundred bucks. Go ask your neighbor or your hot teacher ngrrrhhh! † Father was drinking with the neighbors, as usual. I never had the best grades in school†¦Still I’m in Grade 5. I never really excelled in any part. One time, I was asked by my teacher to answer a math problem . â€Å"Ms. Garcia! Answer this: 90 divided by 10?. † My teacher told me. I couldn’t answer. I don’t know the answer. I don’t know how to get the answer. Hoping for Lady Luck to save me, I guessed. â€Å"19? † Each one of my classmates laughed at my stupidity. â€Å"STUPID IDIOT! IT’S 19! † â€Å"How Dumb of you! Go home and wash your filthy clothes! † â€Å"Bettr yet†¦ Wash your Brain. † â€Å"This is, if you have one? † Hysteric laughter filled the small room. I was humiliated, embarrassed, ashemed.Me, the oldest person of the class, could not even answer a simple mathematical problem. My teacheer yelled â€Å"You can’t even divide 90 by 10! Why bother coming here when you don’t even learn? Just go home worthless imbecible! † That is how my school life’s like. Friends? I have none. Everyone of them loathes me. I tried approaching one. I said with a calm approach. â€Å"Hi there! Can you be my friend? † She replie â€Å"HELL NO! I’d rather be fat and ugly than being friends with a stupid girl who can’t even divide 90 by 10. † I asked other people and the replies i got were: Eeeww! † â€Å"Why should I? † â€Å"There is no reason why I should befriend a person like you. † â€Å"If I were you, I’d take a bath. You look and smell disgusting. † this and that,this and that†¦ Guhhh! No one wants tobe near me. Each time I hear of such jeers from everyone around me. I weep in depression. What have I done to deserve this kind of castigation? Why did God forsake everything from me? Though I may have the face of Ann Curtis, the body of Marian Rivera and the voice of Sarah Geronimo (sing â€Å" A very Special Love†), what you see is not always what you get.What I am is a young misled teenage girl, in need of someone to counsel me, to enlighten my way and to guide me towards the right path. Through out my 16 years of living, I have never encountered that someone. I guess, there may be no reason for me to live. I ask for you judgement. I know somehow that you’ll blame me for being another bane of this society, reckless and rebellious, but that’s my only way to express my demand of attention and love. I wanted to scape, I wanted to find someone whom I could share story with, someone who would bestowe me the best advice, someone†¦ omeone†¦ but how? none would bother to heed. I never wanted to live this kind of life, no direction and miserable. what I want now is to be free from all of this. That’s why I came up into a dicision of terminating my life. I am more ready to face death than to face insults all over again at least when I’m gone, I am so much fed up. Maybe, after the long run, people woudld appreciate my existence. So everyone, before it’s too late I’m begging you to answer me, is ther anymore reason for meto live?

Interview with Leonardo Da Vinci Essay

The Renaissance began in Italy. While it only a affected a small amount of the population, the â€Å"rebirth† of classical culture is revered today. The general idea of the renaissance is that in Ancient Greek and Roman times we were enlightened, and then lost the light in the â€Å"dark† ages, and then became enlightened again in the rebirth of classical culture. Setting: A stage with comfortable chairs, Leonardo da Vinci sitting in one chair, the host in the other. Host: Welcome to Talk Renaissance Live, I’m here with Leonardo da Vinci, the very definition of a â€Å"Renaissance man†. So tell the audience about yourself Leo. Can I call you Leo? Leo: Um sure. Well honestly I don’t know why people like me so much, I’m a terrible procrastinator. And while I’ve had a few successful paintings, a lot of my works were more of failed experiments. Host: That is still better than most of the population. And your scientific journals still have people wondering today. You had ideas, sometimes even working ideas for things that weren’t even conceived for most of the population until this last century. What was it like working for a commission? Leo: It was ok, once I had plenty of apprentices. Apprentices meant I could spend more time on enquiries of the scientific nature. Host: So why was the Mona Lisa smiling the way she was? Leo: Well now that’s something I swore I would never tell. Host: You’re no fun, and I was wondering. Why didn’t you publish and of the scientific advances you made? Leo: Well it was a different world back then. I had more respect then most people, but if I’d tried to publish my scientific thoughts then I would have been laughed out of the building. Or killed. Host: You mentioned having apprentices later in your career, how was it like being one yourself? And who were you an apprentice for? Leo: Well when I was 14 I apprenticed to the man known as Verrocchio. He taught me many things, both in theoretical and practical fields. Even after I qualified as a master artist I continued to collaborate with him, because he was a fine man. Host: That’s our time, when we come back from the break I’ll be sitting here with Johann Gutenberg. Host: And we’re back, sitting with me is Johann Gutenberg. You may not know who he is, but he was essential to both the Renaissance and what followed. Johann: Hello. Host: How about you explain to the audience about your important contributions? Johann: I brought the printing to Europe. Host: Yes, could you explain how? Johann: Was able to make a printing system that could mass produce books, and have it be economically viable. Host: And was it? Johann: Well it was for everyone except me really. I ended up with an enormous debt and then was sued for â€Å"misuse of funds†. Host: That’s unfortunate, did you win the court case? Johann: Of course not, and he had control of my bible printing press, and half of all bibles printed. Host: And could you explain why the printing press was important? Johann: As I understand it, it meant that books and news traveled to more people, and more quickly. It helped the Renaissance, and later facilitated the Scientific revolution. Host: Wow that was an informative interview, but now we have to go to commercial break. When we come back I will be talking with our final guest. Host: And we’re back! Now as you know with the Renaissance came the appearance of humanism. We have the father of humanism himself with us today, Francesco Petrarca! Petrarca: Hello. Host: As the father of humanism, could you explain to the audience exactly what humanism is? Petrarca: Humanism is a response to the clinical scholasticism. Humanists such as myself want to create a society where are all citizens are capable of engaging civic life, being eloquent of speech and pen. Host: I see, what is scholasticism? Petrarca: It’s something that seems to be prevalent in society today, preparing people to be â€Å"good† jobs such as doctors or lawyers. It emphasizes learning minor and unimportant details for careers that relatively few will partake in. Host: Asides from being the Father of Humanism what else have you done? Petrarca: I’m also a bit of a poet. And I came up with the concept of the Dark Ages, although that seems to have gone out of style as of late. Host: Well the thought as of late is that calling it the Dark Ages is oversimplifying. It portrays the idea that humanity was briefly enlightened, and then lost it’s way, and then was enlightened again- Petrarca: Exactly! That’s exactly the point I’m trying to make. Host: Well it doesn’t agree with what modern historians generally think. They’ve been trying to make an effort to be less Eurocentric, and to try to understand concepts of the past without changing the facts to suite our ideas of what should have happened.

Free Essays on Phobias

Phobias In America, more people suffer from phobias than do Cancer. The purpose of this paper is to define phobias as well as explain their impact on their victims. It will also examine the current research on the several types of phobias. Then they will explain the cause of these phobias. After this we describe how you can tell if a person is infected by these serious problems. The symptoms are sometimes easy to see but, some time can’t be seen. Next, we will discuss the different treatments that are available in these times. Finally, we will describe the research that is being done to help cure these diseases’. Webster defines a phobia as â€Å"a strong irrational fears, that can often control peoples lives. Phobias are becoming more common in adults. Phobias have been around for a long time. In the Middle Ages the had very strange methods of attempting to cure a person problem. One case is were if you feared water, they would submerge you in a rank of water and not let you stop going under until you have conquered the fear. They did not know about these serious problems. When there is a problem they need help. Fisher 2 There are so many phobias. There is a phobia for everything. They are divided into three major categories. One is mental phobias. These are they phobias that are in your head. One example is being stage fright. This is your brain mentally telling you that you are so scared that you can’t move. The Next one is social phobias. These are the phobias that are caused by being in crowds are being afraid to do something because you are afraid what people think. The last one is agoraphobia. Over 23 million Americans suffer from phobias each year. One third of these people go and get treatment. Social phobias are becoming more and more common (Rothenburg). One very specific phobia is performance anxiety or commonly called â€Å"stage fright† (Social I & II). This is a very comm... Free Essays on Phobias Free Essays on Phobias Phobias In America, more people suffer from phobias than do Cancer. The purpose of this paper is to define phobias as well as explain their impact on their victims. It will also examine the current research on the several types of phobias. Then they will explain the cause of these phobias. After this we describe how you can tell if a person is infected by these serious problems. The symptoms are sometimes easy to see but, some time can’t be seen. Next, we will discuss the different treatments that are available in these times. Finally, we will describe the research that is being done to help cure these diseases’. Webster defines a phobia as â€Å"a strong irrational fears, that can often control peoples lives. Phobias are becoming more common in adults. Phobias have been around for a long time. In the Middle Ages the had very strange methods of attempting to cure a person problem. One case is were if you feared water, they would submerge you in a rank of water and not let you stop going under until you have conquered the fear. They did not know about these serious problems. When there is a problem they need help. Fisher 2 There are so many phobias. There is a phobia for everything. They are divided into three major categories. One is mental phobias. These are they phobias that are in your head. One example is being stage fright. This is your brain mentally telling you that you are so scared that you can’t move. The Next one is social phobias. These are the phobias that are caused by being in crowds are being afraid to do something because you are afraid what people think. The last one is agoraphobia. Over 23 million Americans suffer from phobias each year. One third of these people go and get treatment. Social phobias are becoming more and more common (Rothenburg). One very specific phobia is performance anxiety or commonly called â€Å"stage fright† (Social I & II). This is a very comm...

About Sir Clough Williams-Ellis and Portmeirion, Wales

About Sir Clough Williams-Ellis and Portmeirion, Wales Architect Clough Williams-Ellis (born May 28, 1883 in Gayton, Northamptonshire, England) is best-known as the creator of Portmeirion, a village in Wales, yet as an environmentalist he also helped establish the British National Parks system and became knighted for his services to architecture and the environment. Son of the Reverand John Clough Williams-Ellis, young Bertram Clough first moved to Wales with his family when he was only four. He went back to England to study mathematics at Trinity College in Cambridge, but he never graduated. From 1902 to 1903 he trained at the Architectural Association in London. The budding designer had deep Welsh and English connections, being related to the medieval entrepreneur Sir Richard Clough (1530–1570) and the Victorian poet Arthur Hugh Clough (1819-1861). His first designs were numerous parsonages and regional cottages in England and Northern Ireland. He inherited some property in Wales in 1908, married in 1915, and raised a family there. After serving in World War I, he designed a number of war memorials and travelled to architecturally rich countries like Italy, an experience that informed his sense of what he wanted to build in his homeland. In 1925 Clough Williams-Ellis began building in Portmeirion in northern Wales, and he didnt finish until 1976. Located on Sir Cloughs private peninsula on the coast of Snowdonia, Portmeirion first opened in 1926. That year, Sir Clough also founded the CPRE (Council for the Protection of Rural England). He established the CPRW (now Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales) in 1928. Portmeirion was not a continuous project, however. He continued to design residences and in 1935 he designed the original summit building on Snowdon, which became the highest building in Wales. Forever the conservationist and environmentalist, Sir Clough helped establish the British National Parks in 1945, and in 1947 he penned On Trust for the Nation for the National Trust. He was knighted in 1972 for services to architecture and the environment.   He died at his home in Plas Brondanw on April 8, 1978. Portmerion: A Lifelong Project The flamboyant and largely self-taught Bertram Clough Williams-Ellis devoted his life to the cause of environmental preservation. His work on the resort village of Portmeirion, Wales represented his efforts to prove that it was possible to build beautiful - and colorful - housing without defiling the natural landscape. Sir Clough was 90 years old when  Portmeirion was completed. Portmeirion is riddled with anachronisms. Greek gods mingle with gilded figures of Burmese dancers. Modest stucco bungalows are decked with arcaded porches, balustraded balconies, and Corinthian columns. Its as though the designer tossed 5,000 years of architectural history along the shore, without a care for symmetry, accuracy, or continuity. Even American architect Frank Lloyd Wright paid a visit in 1956, just to see what Clough was up to. Wright, who also boasted a Welsh heritage and a concern for conservation, praised the innovative combinations of architectural styles. Portmeirion became an exercise in historic restoration. Many of the structures were pieced together from buildings destined for demolition. The village became known as a repository for fallen architecture. Portmeirion designer Sir Clough Williams-Ellis didnt mind when visitors called his quirky village Home for Fallen Buildings. Architect Clough Williams-Ellis moved amongst artists and artisans. He married the writer Amabel Strachey and fathered the artist/potter Susan Williams-Ellis, originator of Portmeirion Botanic Garden dinnerware. An Italian Resort in Northern Wales Viewers of the 1960s television series The Prisoner will find some of the landscapes eerily familiar. The bizarre prison kingdom where actor Patrick McGoohan encountered surreal adventures was, in fact, Portmeirion. The vacation village of Portmeirion nestles on the northern coast of Wales, but theres nothing Welsh in the flavor of its architecture. No stone cottages here. Instead, the hillside overlooking the bay is dotted with candy-colored houses which suggest sunny Mediterranean landscapes. There are even swaying palm trees around the tinkling fountains. Portmeirion village in Minffordd has become a destination vacation and event venue in northern Wales. It has accommodations, cafes, and weddings all within a Disneyesque community. Vacationing within a fanciful, planned community was big business in the 1960s, after the success of Californias Disneyland in 1955 and before the 1971 opening of Floridas Walt Disney World Resort. Sir Cloughs idea of fantasy, however, took on more Italianate tone than Disneys mousechitecture. The Unicorn Cottage, for example, was a British-Italian experience in the Welsh countryside. Since 2012, Portmeierion has been the site of an arts and music festival called Festival No6 - named after the main character in The Prisoner. For one long, exhausting weekend in early September, Sir Cloughs village is home to the quirky fringe who seek poetry, harmony, and a Mediterranean refuge in northern Wales. Festival No6 is billed as a festival unlike any other  - no doubt because the fanciful Welsh village is itself a fantasy. In the TV show, the sense of geographical and temporal displacement suggests that this village was created by a madman. But there was nothing crazy about Portmeirions designer, Sir Clough Williams-Ellis. His lifelong concern was with environmental preservation. By building Portmeirion on his private peninsula in Snowdonia, Wales, Sir Clough hoped to show that architecture can be beautiful and fun...without defacing the landscape. Despite these high-minded intentions, however, Portmeirion is, most of all, entertaining. Clough Williams-Ellis was a master of illusion, and his designs confuse, delight, and deceive. Highlights of Portmeirion The Piazza Originally the Piazza was a tennis court, but since 1966 the area has been a quiet paved area with a blue tiled pond, a fountain, and lavish flower beds. Along the southern edge of the Piazza, two columns support gilded figures of Burmese dancers. A low stone stairway climbs to the Gloriette - a playful structure named after the grand monument at the Schà ¶nbrunn Palace near Vienna. Built in the mid-1960s, Portmeirions garden room or gloriette is not a building, but a decorative facade. Five trompe loeil windows surround the open doorway. The four columns are the work of 18th century architect Samuael Wyatt, salvaged from the colonnade of Hooton Hall, Cheshire. The Bridge House Built between 1958 and 1959, Bridge House seems larger than it really is because of its tapering walls. When visitors pass through the archway from the parking area, they encounter their first breathtaking view of the village. Bristol Colonnade Built in about 1760, the Colonnade stood in front of a Bristol bathhouse in England. It was falling into decay when Portmeirions creator moved the structure to Portmeirion - piece by piece.in 1959. Several hundred tons of delicate masonry were disassembled and transported to the Welsh village. Every stone was numbered, and replaced according to precise measurements. Promenade Sir Clough Williams-Ellis, today recognized as one of the United Kingdoms first conservationists, wanted to show that the development of a naturally beautiful site need not lead to its defilement. An assortment of urns and columns line the flower strewn Promenade atop the Bristol Colonnade - rebuilt in the Welsh hillside, overlooking The Piazza and the village. The integration of walkways atop, over, through, and into Sir Cloughs designed village ties together the themes of community and harmony within an Italian Renaissance architecture. The dome at the Promenades end replicates the famous Brunelleschi dome in Florence, Italy. Unicorn Cottage In this miniature of a stately Chatsworth home, architect and Portmeirion master planner Sir Clough Williams-Ellis creates the illusion of a classic Georgian estate. Elongated windows, long pillars, and an undersized gate make the Unicorn seem tall, but in fact it is a dressed-up bungalow built in the mid-1960s...and only one story high. Hercules Gazebo Several cast iron mermaid panels, salvaged from the Old Seamans Home in Liverpool, form the sides of the Hercules Gazebo, built in 1961-1962. For many years, the Hercules Gazebo was painted shocking pink. The structure is now a more subtle terra-cotta shade. But this playful facade is yet another example of architectural illusion - as a space to house mechanical equipment, the Gazebo disguises a generator. Cottages Hotels and cottages dot the planned landscape of Portmeirion, just as they would in any village. Chantry Cottage, with its red-clay tile Italiante roof, sits high atop the hill, above the Bristol Colonnade and Promenade below. Built in 1937 for the Welsh painter Augustus John, Chantry Cottage is one of the earliest structures built by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis and today is a self-catering cottage sleeping nine. But it all began with legendary mermaids, real or not. Dating from the 1850s, the Mermaid house was present on the peninsula when building began at Portmeirion. For many years it was used to house village staff. Sir Clough dressed up the cottage with an imposing metal canopy and the welcoming palm trees sprinkled throughout the village. Landscape design and Italianate architecture is how Sir Clough created the illusion that we are in sunny Italy...not in wet and windy North Wales. And it works. Visual Elements for Portmeirion The Piazza Village Center - VisitBritain/Britain on View/Getty Images Bridge House - Martin Leigh/Getty Image (cropped) Bristol Colonnade Bathhouse from Bristol, England - John Freeman/Getty Images (cropped) Promenade - Charles Bowman/Getty Images (cropped) Unicorn Cottage Behind Colorful Iron Gate  - Paul Thompson/Getty Images (cropped) Hercules Gazebo on Day 2 of Festival No6  - Andrew Benge/Getty Images Bristol Colonnade Beneath Chantry Row  - John Freeman/Getty Images (cropped) Sources Chronology, https://www.portmeirion-village.com/visit/clough-williams-ellis/chronology/ [accessed March 17, 2018]ocal Legends, BBC, bbc.co.uk/legacies/myths_legends/wales/w_ne/article_7.shtml [accessed March 17, 2018]Snowdon summit centre hits the peak of success, WalesOnline, https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/snowdon-summit-centre-hits-peak-1913101 [accessed March 17, 2018]Photo credits: The Resort Village of Portmeirion, Wales by Martin Leigh/Photolibrary Collection/Getty Images (cropped); Bridge House by John Freeman/Getty Images (cropped); The Colonnade by Ben Pipe Photography/Getty Images (cropped); Promenade atop the Bristol Colonnade by John Freeman/Getty Images (cropped); Unicorn Cottage by Paul Thompson/Getty Images (cropped); Cast Iron Mermaid Panel by Scott Wylie, scotbot via flckr.com, Creative Commons 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

Replacing Damaged and Torn US Currency

Replacing Damaged and Torn US Currency Every year the United States Treasury redeems over $30 million worth of damaged and mutilated paper money - currency. Here is how to get damaged or mutilated U.S. money replaced. Replacing US Currency Damaged U.S. currency- paper bills- that have merely been damaged can typically be replaced at a bank, while bills that have been mutilated must be mailed to the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing for replacement.To be considered damaged but not mutilated, at least one-half of the damaged bill must be clearly identifiable. Bills that are dirty, defaced, or torn can typically be replaced at a bank.Bills that have deteriorated from being buried in soil or have been damaged by fire, flooding, chemicals, explosions, animals or insects are more likely to be considered mutilated.The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) does not charge for inspecting or replacing mutilated currency, however, the BEP must be able to identify the mutilated bills as being valid U.S. currency. The correct procedure for replacing US currency depends on how and how badly the money has been damaged. According to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP), U.S. currency that has been damaged, but not mutilated, can usually be redeemed at a bank, while truly mutilated bills require special handling. What is Damaged, but Not Mutilated Money? Damaged but not mutilated currency includes any bill that is CLEARLY more than ones of non-mutilated bills include those that are badly soiled, dirty, defaced, disintegrated, limp, torn or otherwise worn out.These damaged-but-not-mutilated bills can be exchanged through your local bank. Replacing Mutilated Currency The Bureau of Engraving and Printing considers mutilated money to be less than about 51% of the original bill or any bill so badly damaged that its value cannot be determined without special handling and examination. The mutilated currency has most often been damaged by fire, flooding, chemicals, explosions, animals or insects. Another very common source of damage to currency is fossilization or deterioration from being directly buried in soil for long periods of time. The BEP redeems mutilated currency as a free public service. Mutilated currency must be mailed or personally delivered to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Here, according to the U.S. Treasury is how to do it: When mutilated currency is submitted, a letter should be included stating the estimated value of the currency and an explanation of how the currency became mutilated. Each case is carefully examined by an experienced mutilated currency examiner. The amount of time needed to process each case varies with its complexity and the case workload of the examiner. However, the BEP warns that heavy volume and the precise nature of the work may result in longer wait times. The Director of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing has the final authority for the settlement of mutilated currency claims. Although Treasury examiners are usually able to determine the amount and value of the mutilated currency, carefully packaging the currency is essential to prevent additional damage. In general, the BEP will replace mutilated currency if: More than 50% of a bill that can be identified as United States currency is present, along with sufficient remnants of any relevant security features; or,Less than 50% of a bill identifiable as United States currency is present and the method of mutilation and supporting evidence demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Treasury that the missing portions have been totally destroyed. Every year, the Treasury Department handles approximately 30,000 claims and redeems mutilated currency valued at over $30 million. Procedure for Mailing Mutilated Currency The following procedures should be used when packing mutilated currency for examination and possible replacement by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing: Regardless of the condition of the currency, do not disturb the fragments any more than is absolutely necessary.If the currency is brittle or inclined to fall apart, pack it carefully in plastic and cotton without disturbing the fragments and place the package in a secure container.If the currency was mutilated in a purse, box, or another container, it should be left in the container to protect the fragments from further damage.If it is absolutely necessary to remove the fragments from the container, send the container along with the currency and any other contents that may have currency fragments attached.If the currency was flat when mutilated, do not roll or fold the notes.If the currency was rolled up when mutilated, do not attempt to unroll or straighten it out.If coins or any other metal is mixed with the currency, carefully remove it. Any fused, melted, or otherwise mutilated coins should be sent to, Superintendent U. S. Mint, Post Office Box 400 Philadelphia, PA. 19105. Mailing Address for Mutilated Currency Mutilated currency, packed according to the above instructions, should be mailed to: Department of the TreasuryBureau of Engraving and PrintingOffice of Currency StandardsP. O. Box 37048 Washington, D. C. 20013 All mutilated currency should be sent by Registered Mail, Return Receipt Requested.  Purchasing postal insurance on the shipment is the responsibility of the sender. For cases that are expected to take longer than four weeks to process, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing will issue a written confirmation of receipt. To obtain information about your mutilated currency shipment, contact the Mutilated Currency Division at 1-866-575-2361 or 202-874-8897. Personal deliveries of mutilated currency to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing are accepted between the hours of 8:00 A.M. and 2:00 P.M., Monday through Friday, except holidays. The Office of Currency Standards is located at 14th and C Streets, S. W., Washington, D. C. What About Damaged Coins? The United States Mint will replace uncurrent (badly worn) coins with new coins of the same denomination and will redeem mutilated coins for their current scrap metal value. Uncurrent coins are whole coins but are worn or reduced in weight by natural abrasion. They are easily recognizable as to genuineness and denomination and are in such condition that coin sorting and counting machines will accept them. Undercut coins that are too badly worn to be redeemed by commercial banks may be redeemed only at  Federal Reserve Banks and branches. Uncurrent coins are replaced with new coins of the same denomination by the Federal Reserve Banks and then forwarded to the United States Mint. Mutilated coins, on the other hand, are coins that are bent, broken, not whole, or fused or melted together.

Company policy for safety cell phone use in cars Essay

Company policy for safety cell phone use in cars - Essay Example Based on the policy: You should avoid using your cell phone held in your hands while driving, especially during dangerous driving conditions such as snow, sleet, rain or ice. All sales representatives should place their cell phones in easily accessible places in the car to ensure easy and faster reach. You should not shift your eyes and attention from the road while getting your mobile phone. Every sales representative is expected to be familiar with all the important features of their mobile phones such as making speed dial and voice calls among others in order to ensure efficient and swift use when there is need. Do not take notes or concentrate on looking at your phone while driving. Pull over in case you cannot avoid taking the call and turn off your engine or let your voice mail do the receiving if the call is not urgent. This will also be applicable for hands-free devices. This policy aims at ensuring your safety in the course of duty. Therefore, let us all observe the proposed rules as we use our mobile phones. I hope you all find this information important rather than restricting and support its course. Thank you for your support as we look into a safer future.

Security Analysis and Portfolio Management Assignment

Security Analysis and Portfolio Management - Assignment Example It was originated in USA and the first credit rating agency was set up in New York. Credit rating can be defined as the way of evaluating the credit worth of a debtor. According to Moody’s a rating is an opinion on the future ability and legal obligation of the issuer to make timely payments of principal and interest on a specific fixed income security (Gurusamy, 2009, p.88-89). In general, the evaluation of the various securities is done by the credit rating agencies regarding the ability of the debtor to pay back the financial obligations and the probability of becoming a defaulter. In addition, credit rating is also used by the individuals and business ventures that purchase bonds which are issued by the government and companies in order to determine the possibility that company or the government will fulfill its bond obligations. The credit rating is based on the records of earlier repayment and borrowing. Apart from that, the credit rating is also done on the basis of the company’s availability of assets and liabilities. ... Some of the factors are convenient and some are inconvenient. A poor credit rating of the companies or the government indicates that they have high chances of not fulfilling the obligations. A credit rating also highlights about the credit quality and credit risk. The desirable characteristics of a credit rating are as follows: - Specificity: - The rating is in accordance with or specific to the debt instrument. Relativity: - The rating is based on the willingness and the relative capability of the instrument issuer to service the obligations of the debt specific to the terms of the contract. Guidance: - The credit rating is aimed to provide guidance to the investors regarding the credit risk associated with an investment. Qualitative and Quantitative: - In order to determine the credit grade, both qualitative as well as quantitative factors are used. The judgment made is however qualitative in nature. Not a Recommendation: - The rating does not provide any kind of recommendations to hold, buy or sell the instruments. This is because of the fact that credit rating does not take into consideration factors such as personal risk preferences, market prices and other factors that may impact the investment decision. Broad Parameters: - The credit rating is based on some of the parameters of information provided by the issuer and information collected from other sources. No Guarantee: - The rating as provided by the agency does not provide any assurance for the accuracy and completeness of the information regarding the factors of rating. The increasing importance and stupendous growth of crediting rating system has been mainly due to the globalization of the credit market, moving trends towards the privatization, due to the withdrawal

Comparative Corporate Governance Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Comparative Corporate Governance - Assignment Example Either way, the only time that accountability comes into play is when there is a crisis. In this way, managerial accountability issues are the same across jurisdictions. I. Corporate Governance in the United States Corporate governance and governance arrangements vary widely from country to country, and to illustrate this an in-depth examination will focus upon the UK and the United States. The first thing to understand about the United States’ corporate governance is that it evolved after the Enron and WorldCom scandals of the early 1990s to early 2000s. In order to understand why corporate governance in the UK and the United States evolved, one must under the precipitating factors in their evolutions, and that was the Enron and WorldCom scandals in the late 1990s-early 2000s. Corporate governance was different for the United States in the 1980s, because, during this period, hostile takeovers changed the way that corporations did business. 1 Leveraged buyouts were costly mane uvers, which made managers sensitive to the market price of their firm. This, in turn, led to great risks in inflating the stock prices. This was coupled with widespread deregulation and the rise of CEO pay.2 Since CEO pay was tied to the company’s performance, the CEO had reason to inflate the corporate numbers, because this, in turn, would inflate the salary of the CEO. The tie from the company’s performance to the CEO was further reason for the CEO to obsess about the day to day price of the firm. What this means was that, since the CEO pay was tied to the performance of the company, there was further reason for the CEO to inflate numbers, because it would also inflate his or her salary. Because of this tie from the performance of the company to the CEO pay, the CEO was given further reason to obsess over the day to day price of the firm. Moreover, there was a failure of accounting in catching the Enron and WorldCom debacles.3 Arthur Andersen, the accounting firm be hind the Enron scandal, went from being one of the most well-respected professional firms in the world to a shamed company that was not only responsible for the Enron scandal, but securities frauds in Waste Management, Sunbeam, HBOCMcKesson, The Baptist Foundation and Global Crossing as well.4 While the U.S. has also traditionally believed in the power of the free market,5 in the wake of the scandals, the U.S. implemented a series of rules, as codified in the Code of Federal Regulations, by which corporations must abide. Some of these rules involve transparency in the disclosure of executive compensation.6 According to the SEC, all corporations must disclose any remuneration made to the CEO, CFO and the three most highly paid officers.7 The rules apply to the following disclosures: â€Å"(1) tabular disclosures regarding executive remuneration and director remuneration;(2) narrative description of other types of remuneration and any information material to an understanding of the t abular information, and (3) a Compensation Discussion and Analysis (â€Å"CD&A†)†8 . The way that all companies must disclose this information is through their annual proxy statement, which the SEC's website makes available on-line.9 Additionally, there are other regulations that are designed to increase transparency about executive and director compensation. For instance, there are regulations that require disclosure regarding â€Å"(i) beneficial ownership of public company securities by persons owning 5% or more of

Project governance structures and leadership Essay

Project governance structures and leadership - Essay Example Rio Tinto shares were listed in the ‘Australian Securities Exchange’, ‘London Stock Exchange’ and ‘New York Stock Exchange’. Headquarter of the company is situated in the UK and it was operating in 40 countries with around 71,000 employees. The main objective of the business is undergo the operation of ‘finding’, ‘mining’, and ‘processing mineral’ of the global resources. Furthermore, the company is engaged in the production of ‘metals’ as well as ‘minerals’ that includes ‘copper’, ‘gold’, ‘diamonds’, ‘uranium’, ‘aluminium’, ‘coal’ and other industrial minerals (1Rio Tinto, 2014). The aim of the essay is to analyse the current business model in terms of the project governance structures and leadership approaches of Rio Tinto Group. In this regard, an assessment is conducted with the aim of having a better understanding about the procedure based on which the company businesses approach in the global context. . The organisational structure of Rio Tinto Group is based on the hierarchical pattern i.e. top-down structure and the overall job role of the group is sub divided into separate departments. These departments are centrally accountable for the functional management linkage with the corporate management that consist of board level. The corporate management of the company includes the chairman, two executive directors and eight independent non-executive directors and presidents (2Rio Tinto, 2013). The company board regulates and evaluates the opportunities that need to put forward and strive to keep a balance between expenses and income of the business. The 2013 strategic report of the company reveals that board evaluates the planning reports and plays a supportive role to approve such plans. Sam Walsh is the chief executive of the company decision during the year 2013 is highly supported by the board level of implementing

Philosophy of law ( movie review ) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Philosophy of law ( movie review ) - Essay Example These were the main areas that they did not want to thrive amidst the Jews in Germany. The Jewish synagogues were burnt to ashes and their children were expelled from school. Only the native religion and culture was to be upheld. The acts of the Nazis apparently relied on the philosophy of nationalism. Nationalism demands that a nation protects its interests and sovereignty with all means possible. Any intruding civilization is treated with inferiority and cruelty. In the case of â€Å"Night of Broken Glass†, nationalism had been exaggerated by its proponents. It was expansionist nationalism, marked with a radical military aggression towards the Jews. Nazism may be justified on the basis of sovereignty and prevention of culture distortion. Whereas the government and the Nazis were strongly supporting nationalism philosophy, a large faction of the natives seemed quite hesitant to act against the Jews. It may be said that these people were buying into communism; a classless form socialization that enhances unity. Communism, other than preserving unity, protects human dignity and rights, including

Is Aborftion Moral Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Is Aborftion Moral - Essay Example Rape is an act of sexual intercourse with a person who is unwilling. In most of the times, the rapists do not use protection. As such, the rape victims are impregnated by this heinous act. At times, the rape victims do not get enough mitigation processes to avoid pregnancy (Ezell, Norwood, Stewart, Greenwood, Waight, Bishop, and Hutchins, 2009). For example, some rape victims are afraid of seeking help from the healthcare service department. In these days, medical advancement makes it possible to use morning-after-pill to avert pregnancy. However, this is only possible with a timeline of up to 72 hours. Therefore, the victims have to bear the consequences of a crime. To many people, this is humiliating since the rape victim will have memories of an unwanted occurrence. In this aspect, it is acceptable to procure an abortion. Apparently, it is legally acceptable to abort after getting pregnant after a rape incident. Similarly, it is morally acceptable to procure an abortion in inciden ces like child abuse and incest. Many people in the world have a single source of income. For example, a family that is dependent on a single-family breadwinner will be solely dependent on the sole income. However, a situation could lead to a change in the source of income. For example, after death, divorce, or separation, families will find it hard to cope with the new life. In some instances, women find they are pregnant after divorce, separation, or death of their husbands (Webster, 2009). In such a situation, they do not have a single source of income. Apparently, they do have various responsibilities to accomplish. This increases the financial impedance on the single mother. In such a situation, one may procure an abortion. This will limit any other expenses that are precedent. Consequently, it is argued that many people are focusing on the morality of abortion. However, it is noted that there are

Philosophy of law ( movie review ) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Philosophy of law ( movie review ) - Essay Example These were the main areas that they did not want to thrive amidst the Jews in Germany. The Jewish synagogues were burnt to ashes and their children were expelled from school. Only the native religion and culture was to be upheld. The acts of the Nazis apparently relied on the philosophy of nationalism. Nationalism demands that a nation protects its interests and sovereignty with all means possible. Any intruding civilization is treated with inferiority and cruelty. In the case of â€Å"Night of Broken Glass†, nationalism had been exaggerated by its proponents. It was expansionist nationalism, marked with a radical military aggression towards the Jews. Nazism may be justified on the basis of sovereignty and prevention of culture distortion. Whereas the government and the Nazis were strongly supporting nationalism philosophy, a large faction of the natives seemed quite hesitant to act against the Jews. It may be said that these people were buying into communism; a classless form socialization that enhances unity. Communism, other than preserving unity, protects human dignity and rights, including

A Journal opinion article Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 3

A Journal opinion article - Essay Example This has been the driver of social sites like facebook and twitter. The two issues are commanding a large market and therefore very important in economic development. Many would agree that people want to feel happy. This is quite paradoxical in the economic perspective. Philosophers agree that money is not the sole reason to happiness but rather it is just a means to fulfillment. Through research, it has been noted that the relationship between income in monetary terms and happiness or a feeling of fulfillment is quite complex. This seems partly affected by the fact that availability of money enables one to afford recreational facilities, holidays, retreats which are deemed to enhance a feeling of happiness. Some opine that having money doesn’t guarantee a feeling of happiness. Therefore this has remained a subject to many economic researchers who try to relate economics and community, or economics and sociology (Frey & Stutzer 63) In many countries today, job creation remains the priority agenda to development. But how does this stimulate economic growth and development? For instance, having a majority of citizens unemployed fuels society vices like robbery, drug abuse, rape, due to being idle and frustration. From these findings, it’s right to say that job creation is a key aspect to a country’s economic development. This touches on Improvement of other economic drivers as well. This may include industrialization. Job creation seems to be directly proportional to economic growth. Having a huge number of employees being paid by the government translates to high wage bill. The government will spent more amount of money to settle the salaries and wages. This means more taxes to the citizens so as to raise the money. How job creation and happiness are related is a paradox and complex. The effect of economic growth in relation to happiness differs from one country to another. Nevertheless, we can broadly categorize these into developed and dev eloping countries. In developed countries, majority of its citizens can comfortably afford basic needs like clothing, housing, food, medical care. However, this is a problem to citizens in developing countries. They barely afford three meals a day, good shelter, decent clothing, medical care and basic education. This may be a crucial parameter in determination of happiness. The two categories of citizens perceive economic growth and happiness differently (Frey & Stutzer 78) In developing countries, challenges faced also include pollution, depletion of non-renewable natural resources and generally, environmental degradation. This seems to fuel and accelerate the incidence of disease. Epidemiological studies and findings show that there is higher disease prevalence in these countries. High deaths may be recorded and this translates to disillusion and unhappiness. From the scenario, the affected people will incur more expenditure in pursuit of medical services and treatment. Cash flow will be altered at family level, cumulatively affecting the economic landscape of the entire community. Therefore the wellbeing of a person or group of people affects the economic development of the entire niche. The aspect of social wellbeing and economic growth tend to intertwine. Politics is a major factor to economics. Political stability or instability determines the investment patterns of a country. Leadership plays a role in public policy which may favor economic growth or derail it. Unstable governments leadership systems tend to repel

Management and Steel Industry Essay Example for Free

Management and Steel Industry Essay 1. List and elaborate some strategic issues facing NUCOR. Key strategic issues challenging NUCOR include legislation related to climate change, fluctuating cost and supply of iron ore and scrap steel, increasing amount of steel imports, production technology improvements and economic weakness. Changes in legislation could have severe impacts on the firm’s numerous production facilities and could be costly to become compliant. The fluctuations in both the cost and supply of iron ore and scrap steel directly impact the firm’s profitability because it is difficult to pass those costs on to the customers due to the price-driven level of competition in the steel industry. The rise of low cost steel imports increases the domestic U.S. supply which puts pressure on NUCOR. The firm must stay at the front of technological advances for the production and processing of steel in order to stay competitive. Common for many firms and industries, economic weakness is an issue that challenges NUCOR’s strategy because it can impact the demand for its reputable high quality steel products. 2. What are the key elements of NUCOR’s low cost strategy? What factors have helped NUCOR achieve a low cost position? Key strategy elements for NUCOR: Conservative financial strength Team-based culture and decentralized operations Vertical integration Diversification Innovation – information technology, speed of design process Close proximity to important customers Financially stable employees – higher than average wages and non-discretionary incentive programs Employee empowerment Honesty and openness within the company No employee lay-offs Factors that have contributed to NUCOR’s low cost position: Strong, long-term relationships with outside parties for services such as research and development, purchasing recommendations, advertising, public relations, and  legal or environmental regulation compliance Stepping away from the steel industry’s tradition of equalized freight and offering all customers the sales terms of price plus actual shipping costs Not offering customers volume discounts Fleet of nearly 150 trucks for product delivery Vertical integration from joist manufacturing into steel production Steel production utilizing mini-mill technology Holding workstations responsible for identifying bottlenecks to increase efficiency Sophisticated computer program is used to compute accurate bids Improvements in the melting and casting processes for steel production including â€Å"continuous casters† Flat organizational hierarchy 3. Please apply Porter’s Five Forces model to the steel industry. While doing so, clearly identify who is behind each force and what the impact is of each force on the profitability of the industry (high/medium/low). At the end, also provide a summary of all the five forces and propose whether you think the steel industry is attractive or not. The bargaining power of buyers is high due to minimal product differentiation, low switching costs, excess capacity of steel production and large volume purchases. The threat of substitutes is medium because substitutes such as aluminum and plastic would not provide equivalent strength and durability but could still serve the same purpose as steel. The bargaining power of suppliers is low primarily due to the product being a commodity, high ratio of imported raw materials, and low switching costs. The threat of new entrants is low due to the trend toward consolidation and high amount of capital required to establish production/processing facilities capable of achieving economies of scale. Rivalry is intense because the steel industry is mature with little differentiation among products and mergers both in the U.S. and across the globe creating giant companies with deep pockets. Generally speaking, I think the steel industry is unattractive primarily due to its maturity, significant capital requirements and intense price-based competition that ultimately lead to low profitability. 4. What are NUCOR’s resources and capabilities? Resources: Team-based organizational culture Alliances with outside parties for support services Joint ventures with Physical locations of plants in proximity to key customers Loyal employees comprised of production workers, department heads, support and administrative staff, and senior management Innovative mini-mill technology Own fleet of nearly 150 trucks for distribution Computer program to generate bids Plants, mills, equipment, and machinery Reputation Financial capital Capabilities: Management’s philosophy and leadership skills Successful quality control process Flat organizational hierarchy and incentive program that keeps the workforce cooperative and productive Acquisition management Multidivisional coordination Speed of design process 5. Elaborate on some of the key lessons you have learnt from the case analysis. The most significant lesson I learned from this case analysis is that management style and culture can be key to being competitive. These really are the two things that will give NUCOR sustainable competitive advantage  because they are the most difficult to find and imitate. Building such an impressive employee loyalty takes time and cannot be replicated easily. In addition, the minimization of the corporate bureaucracy is something that makes employees at all levels feel comfortable and as if they are part of a family. I think there are many companies, including the one I work for that could really benefit from adopting this management style.

Rap And Censorship Essays -- essays research papers

The beginnings of rap are believed to based on African rhythms which were used as a form of communication by the native peoples. The lyrical component of rap music is thought to have been greatly influenced by Cab Calloway with his repetitive chants and scats, along with his call-and-response technique with the audience. Rap evolved and gained in popularity in the 1960's when a few revolutionary "DJ's," including Kool DJ Herc, DJ Lovebug Starski, and DJ Hollywood, began to work block parties in the Bronx. They would bring in large speakers, hook them up to a turntable and play two of the same record at the same time, repeating the same section of the vinyl over and over by scratching it. Other performers would chant and yell to the crowd. In 1979, music companies recorded rap for the first time. Such acts as The Sugar Hill Gang, The Fatback Band, and Grandmaster Flash were among the first to gain popularity. In 1982, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five released the first popular politically based rap. Grandmaster's song "The Message" deals with life in the inner city, and the stress of being around violence and drugs. It included such lyrics as, "Junkies in the alley with a baseball bat, I tried to get away but I can't get far, cause the man with the touch-up repossessed my car, don't push me 'cause I'm close to the edge†¦" The early popularity of rap was hindered by an inability to reach new audiences. After much controversy, MTV began to run videos by black artists. These artists were showcased primarily on the new program "Yo! MTV Raps". The rhythms and the lyrics attracted a spectrum of listeners, from inner-city minorities to suburban upper-class whites. During the same era, as rap was rising in popularity, the infamous "PMRC hearings" occurred. Tennessee senator Al Gore's wife, Tipper, led the PMRC, or Parents' Music Resource Center. This group, which included a number of other wives of Washington legislators, convinced Congress to hold hearings regarding the placement of warning labels on "offensive" albums. The National PTA also called for warning labels on violent, sexually explicit, or vulgar albums in their yearly address in 1984. During the Congressional hearings, several ideas were considered including warning labels, a ratings system, and singer... ...ould be able to access? Rap music and all other forms of media have their places in this world. While some may argue strongly about whether certain types of music are beneficial or even safe for society to witness, their arguments remain their personal opinions. The true fight for free speech lies not in fighting for the right to hear what you agree with, but in fighting for the freedom of those with whom you disagree. When you take away the public's right to voice a differing opinion, either through their music, their writing, or their art you strike at the very heart of freedom for which America is supposed to stand. References ACLU News. May 31, 1996. Online. Biafra, Jello. "If Evolution is Outlawed, Only Outlaws Will Evolve". Alternative Tentacles Records. 1998. Massachusetts Music Industry Coalition Newsletter. Volume 1, Issue 2. February, 1997. MMICN. Volume 1, Issue 3. September, 1997. MTV News. September 2, 1998. Online. Rock Out Censorship. Online. Rock and Rap Confidential. Issue #4. August, 1983. Rock and Rap Confidential. Issue #7. December, 1983. Rock and Rap Confidential. Issue #118. September, 1994. Rock and Rap Confidential. Issue #130. January, 1996.

Vikings stadium up in the air :: essays research papers

The man who is emerging as the lead owner of the Minnesota Vikings isn't thrilled with Anoka County's $1.6 billion stadium development concept in Blaine, and he has tossed the plan into flux, city and county officials said this week. Zygmunt Wilf, a New Jersey real estate developer who is scheduled to visit Blaine today, has told officials that if he and his partners buy the Vikings, a domed stadium is not a priority. He also said that elements of the retail-commercial-housing development in the Blaine proposal don't appeal to him, and that he is examining land in nearby Lino Lakes as an alternative stadium site. "He's got something in mind that he wants," said Blaine Mayor Tom Ryan. "But he's the only one who knows. We have to be sure his plan, whatever it is, works for the city." Wilf has not returned repeated phone calls from the Star Tribune since February, when it was announced that he was a partner with Arizona businessman Reggie Fowler in an effort to buy the Vikings. His scheduled visit today, his second to Blaine in three weeks, has officials curious about his intentions and vision. "We're dying to find out," said Blaine Planning Director Bryan Schafer. Of the Blaine plan, Anoka County Board Chairwoman Margaret Langfeld said: "It's just up in the air right now." Two years ago, after evaluating three potential locales in Anoka County, county officials landed on the Blaine site, which has more than 400 acres ready for development. It stands just west of Interstate Hwy. 35W, bordered by 109th Avenue NE. to the north and Lexington Avenue to the east. Soon after, the county proposed a fixed-roofed stadium, with a 300,000-square-foot medical clinic, a 250-room hotel, 1.3 million feet of corporate office space, 200 townhouses and 650,000 square feet of retail and entertainment facilities. The total cost was estimated at $1.6 billion. The county and city presented the plan to Gov. Tim Pawlenty's Stadium Screening Committee last year and, with the concept, the Anoka County Board approved a three-quarter-cent sales tax increase to help pay for it. But in a meeting with city and county officials on April 14, Wilf was apparently indifferent to a roof, questioned the need for the clinic and told political leaders that he would examine the Lino Lakes land, 8 miles to the east of the Blaine site, near Interstate Hwy. 35E. "This isn't an exact quote," said Anoka County Commissioner Dan Erhart, "but he said something like, 'I'm a builder.

Interpersonal Communication Application Paper

â€Å"I have never been the same person alone that I am with people. † (Phillip Roth) I can directly relate with this quote, I’m sure quite a few people can. So often, we act differently in private than we do with others. Of course, it’s all dependent upon who the ‘others’ are. For example, we may feel more comfortable being our true selves with our friends and become more reserved with colleagues. This is not necessarily how all humans behave, some folks have no problem being exactly who they are at all times no matter whose company they are in.I admire this quality when it is not coming from someone I perceive as obnoxious. Certainly, factors such as perception, culture, and the people we are communicating with will influence how we behave in public as opposed to private. Most immediately, I think how we perceive ourselves and how we think other people perceive us will influence our behavior in given situations. We’re all so different and ou r experiences tend to shape our personalities. Some of us are naturally outgoing and social, while others are more introverted and feel best without the company of others.Both scenarios present their own challenges and behaviors will be influenced by these tendencies. It’s generally very easy and preferred for the introverted personality to go through their day without the company of another, while a more extroverted individual might feel very lonely without another’s company. How these two behave in group functions will also vary. The outgoing individual will be very much in his element, and more likely to be cheerful and positive. An introverted person will be more shy and standoffish within the group.These are merely characteristics that go together, as presented in the book under the implicit personality theory. In either case, the behavior of the individual will vary whether they are alone or with people. And this scenario is a more natural occurrence. Sometimes s ituations arise where we want others to see us as something we are not and we’ll present ourselves in a certain manner that is not true to who we are, just to fit in or gain the trust of that particular group. When alone, we may let ourselves behave more naturally and feel less obliged to pretend.Cultures also influence how we behave in public and alone. Some cultures do not allow women to be in public without a headdress, while at home they are allowed to be more relaxed. In our American culture, Christianity teaches that women should be submissive to their husbands, so behaviors will exemplify this in a church setting or when out with church friends. At home, the wife may be the one who makes the final decisions, and the family will behave as such in that particular setting. Finally, the people with which we are communicating will impact what we say and how we say it.We communicate very differently when alone with our romantic partner, as opposed to being with him or her in public. The same is true for our relationships with parents, siblings, neighbors, casual friends or close friends. The words we choose and the tone that we use with any of these communications will vary from person to person and in private or amongst others. Every situation is completely unique. As a novelist, Phillip Roth presented many fine quotes with regard to communication. It was a good exercise to apply what I’ve learned from the text and be able to expand upon this particular quotation. Interpersonal Communication Application Paper â€Å"I have never been the same person alone that I am with people. † (Phillip Roth) I can directly relate with this quote, I’m sure quite a few people can. So often, we act differently in private than we do with others. Of course, it’s all dependent upon who the ‘others’ are. For example, we may feel more comfortable being our true selves with our friends and become more reserved with colleagues. This is not necessarily how all humans behave, some folks have no problem being exactly who they are at all times no matter whose company they are in.I admire this quality when it is not coming from someone I perceive as obnoxious. Certainly, factors such as perception, culture, and the people we are communicating with will influence how we behave in public as opposed to private. Most immediately, I think how we perceive ourselves and how we think other people perceive us will influence our behavior in given situations. We’re all so different and ou r experiences tend to shape our personalities. Some of us are naturally outgoing and social, while others are more introverted and feel best without the company of others.Both scenarios present their own challenges and behaviors will be influenced by these tendencies. It’s generally very easy and preferred for the introverted personality to go through their day without the company of another, while a more extroverted individual might feel very lonely without another’s company. How these two behave in group functions will also vary. The outgoing individual will be very much in his element, and more likely to be cheerful and positive. An introverted person will be more shy and standoffish within the group.These are merely characteristics that go together, as presented in the book under the implicit personality theory. In either case, the behavior of the individual will vary whether they are alone or with people. And this scenario is a more natural occurrence. Sometimes s ituations arise where we want others to see us as something we are not and we’ll present ourselves in a certain manner that is not true to who we are, just to fit in or gain the trust of that particular group. When alone, we may let ourselves behave more naturally and feel less obliged to pretend.Cultures also influence how we behave in public and alone. Some cultures do not allow women to be in public without a headdress, while at home they are allowed to be more relaxed. In our American culture, Christianity teaches that women should be submissive to their husbands, so behaviors will exemplify this in a church setting or when out with church friends. At home, the wife may be the one who makes the final decisions, and the family will behave as such in that particular setting. Finally, the people with which we are communicating will impact what we say and how we say it.We communicate very differently when alone with our romantic partner, as opposed to being with him or her in public. The same is true for our relationships with parents, siblings, neighbors, casual friends or close friends. The words we choose and the tone that we use with any of these communications will vary from person to person and in private or amongst others. Every situation is completely unique. As a novelist, Phillip Roth presented many fine quotes with regard to communication. It was a good exercise to apply what I’ve learned from the text and be able to expand upon this particular quotation.

George Orwell’s Shooting an Elephant: Insights on Imperialism, Ethical Conflicts and Fear of Judgment Essay

George Orwell’s essay â€Å"Shooting an Elephant,† introduces an interesting insight on imperialism, ethical conflicts and fear of judgement through the inner workings of a European police officer given the grueling task of dealing with an elephant in musk within Moulmein, in lower Burma. Imperialism, as defined in the Oxford English Dictionary, reads that Imperialism is â€Å"a policy of extending a country’s power and influence through colonization, use of military force, or other means.† Interestingly, Orwell shows imperialism in his work as a consensual hatred between the Burmese and a particular European cop causing a mutual negativity. The ethical conflicts raised in this essay root from the narrator, (who we can assume is the European police officer) who has been handed the task of dealing with a lustful and aggressive elephant who was a threat to the Burmese people’s land, possessions and lives. Ethical conflicts raised in Orwell’s work, tie to the narrators fear of judgement. It was because the narrator feared judgement so terribly, that he made the choice to pull the trigger on the elephant. When an elephant in musk escapes from his chains with his Mahout far out of reach, the narrator is called in to deal with this ravaging creature. He beings along his rifle and says â€Å"I had no intention of shooting the elephant, I had merely sent for the rifle to defend myself if necessary.† In essence, the pure reason for the rifle was for precautionary reasons, yet it had drawn a large amount of attention and excitement from a large crowd of â€Å"at least 2000 and growing every minute.† (Page 284) The narrator has an ethical dilemma, as â€Å"[he] knew with perfect certainty that [he] ought not to shoot him† (page 284). Orwell compares the elephant to a valuable, expensive piece of machinery. (Page 284) He watches the elephant acting with that â€Å"grandmotherly air that elephants have,† (Page 285) realizing that the beast is calming down and coming out of his lustful phase. This later contrasts with the narrator actually shooting the elephant due to the pressure of â€Å"the sea of yellow faces and their 2000 wills pressing [him] forward.† (Page 284) As the narrator was enroute to locating this lustful elephant, he learns that it had already â€Å"destroyed a bamboo hut, killed a cow and raided some fruit stalls and devoured stock.† (Page 282) In learning these things, Orwell makes it clear that the narrator feels he has legal justification for shooting the elephant even though he morally knew he was in the wrong. Interestingly, the narrators ethics in the matter of shooting the elephant are broken because of his fear of judgement. â€Å"[He] was hated by many people as a European subdivisional police officer in Moulmein. [He] was an obvious target and baited whenever it seemed safe to do so.† When the narrator was called in to deal with this elephant in must, he came to a point where he was surrounded by thousands of Burmese people, left with the choice to either shoot the elephant, or let him live. The pressure provided by the â€Å"thousands of yellow faces,† (page 284) and all of their hatred, left the narrator with no choice in his mind but to fire at this creature. After doing this, he wonders â€Å"whether any of the others (Burmese) grasped that [he] had shot the elephant solely to avoid looking like a fool.† (Page 287) This proves the narrators fear of judgement. Orwell does an excellent job in displaying the hatred between the Burmese and the Europeans, and the feeling that â€Å"imperialism was an evil thing.† (Page 281) He says that â€Å"if a European woman went through the bazaars alone somebody would probably spit betel juice over her dress.† (Page 281) Orwell uses symbolism to demonstrate the â€Å"evil† of imperialism. The ravaging elephant that the narrator was called in to deal with is a symbol for imperialism and its evils. The actual shooting of the elephant unveils that imperialism not only inflicts damage on one side, but on both sides of the relationship. Europe, who is supposed to hold control over the Burmese peoples, lost their control due to the pressure provided by the Burmese people in the actual shooting of the elephant. The Officer is put into a large authority position, but the hate he received from the Burmese, as well as the emotional pressure they put on him to shoot the elephant, puts a sense of power on the Burmese, and less on the â€Å"greater† European colony. Throughout this reading, Orwell demonstrates the evils of imperialism as well as the pressure that we as humans often have to succumb to based on societal pressures we face. He uses a story of a European police officer working in Moulmein who is faced with the pressure of the local Burmese people to kill an elephant who is in must and has done some damage to people’s property.

Literary analysis of hunger Games Book 1 Essay

In Susan Collins’s book the â€Å"Hunger Games† the character of Katniss Everdeen is considered by many to be an example of gender role reversal. Though Katniss does portrait many traits that may be considered masculine in and of themselves, she also portrays feminine traits. Her possession of these feminine even instinctually motherly traits steer my opinion to the thought that these traits are more due to her position in her family then to that of a girl who is tomboyish in nature. In this paper I will show that the behaviors of Katniss Everdeen are traits of an eldest child of a single parent household by assuming the roles of both mother and father as opposed to simply being characterized examples of gender role reversal. The book starts out explaining the back story of Katniss, her father who she was very close with died in a mine explosion five years before the books present day. Now she is left with a mother how is so overwhelmed with grief that she can barely function and a little sister who needs she to be raised. While her father was alive their relationship seem to be very similar to that of a father with no sons who tends to teach their daughter all they would teach a son, I know this relationship very well. While fathers love their daughters they seem to have this primal need for a son, an heir. Similar to other eldest female children when their fathers unexpectedly die, she had to step up and help her mother with the family, and in her case as is in some cases she has to be the parent. While I understand Katniss’s frustration over her mother’s actions after her father’s death, this is her reality and she deals with it and takes care of her family. The very first example of this new parental role in the book is the when Katniss narrates â€Å"The last thing I need is another mouth to feed† (3). Already we are seeing Katniss as the parental provider, she doesn’t say that the cat is the last thing they need, she says it’s the last thing she needs. Then she goes into talking about preparing the food, she has killed. Using the hunting skills her father had taught her, although hunting is considered a masculine activity, she hunts to feed her family to supplement their food stores due to shortages. Any spoils from her hunts left after supplying her family she sells in the â€Å"Hob† the black market (5), earning money to support her family as a father would. Even before the games begin Katniss begins to show concern for this young  girl Rue another tribute, maybe it is Rue’s age she was after about the age of Katniss’s little sister Prim. During the games there is a point where Katniss thinks that one of the kills she heard could have been Rue, you can hear the concern in her thoughts. In a game of survival where everyone is your enemy, Katniss bonds with Rue and tries to protect this little girl. They snuggle together for warmth at night and teach each other to survive by day. When Rue is killed Katniss with an almost maternal rage immediately kills Rue’s killer, this is the first actual kill for Katniss. Then she defies the rules and morns the death of Rue having a makeshift funeral for her and a song from Rues district. This was definitely a turning point for Katniss, she once again in her life had to block out emotion and focus on survival. At this point it was no longer a game of evasion for her it turn to a kill or be kill. Never the less, she maintained her compassion. Which was evident with Peeta, even though she was not sure of his truest intention when he was injured and being hunted she cared for him and protected him. Any other tribute may have left him for dead, but she didn’t. She tended to his wound, feed him, and defended him from the careers that were out to kill him risking her own life. Her actions are like that of an eldest child caring for younger or helpless needy siblings, I know personally I treat everyone in need of help as if they were one of my younger siblings. These are not traits of gender reversal these are traits of a protector a provider a parent. When our children wrong us we forgive and still focus on their protection and safety. When our children are in danger we find amazing strengths we never knew we possessed to protect them. When they hunger we find a way to feed them. Most importantly we survive the harshest of times, overcome the greatest of obstacles and sacrifice ourselves to return to those who need us most. Katniss is no different all she did she did to return to her family to ensure their survival. Without the parental traits she possesses the outcome of the Hunger Games may have been very different. But because of these traits she not only will return to her family she has saved Peeta’s life and may have changes life in Panam for ever.

Women Labor supply in China Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Women Labor supply in China - Research Paper Example Additionally, it was punishable by job loss, and also lack of access to public goods further to that local leaders have been supported by the central Government to implement the resources (Chen and Jianxian 15).   This paper discusses the impact of an extra child to female participation in the workforce and the one-child policy effects in China. The difference between the rural and urban in the implementation of the policies is that the optimal scales differ in both setups. In rular areas, Budget constraints are higher as compared to urban centers. The same case applies in China.Hypothesis and Research Model In class we learnt on the budget constraint and utility curve model. In the graph, X-axis have the leisure and Y-axis has the income. In the original situation, before the policy was passed, the graph was linear. However, the establishment of the policy led to a shift of the optimal choice. Women participation in the workforce will provide a possibility of an increment of their wages. Ultimately, an increase in the wages will result in more leisure time and hence the shift of the curve. When income increases budget constraints will also be reduced, consequently from the graph, the optimal choice will be higher than the original value. For example, if the budget of a family made up of twins was ten dollars in a day, if the woman is actively involved in the workforce the budget will increase since preferences will also increase. This is because of the budget constraint.

POLITICS OF KNOWLEDGE Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

POLITICS OF KNOWLEDGE - Essay Example cesses based upon divine or supernatural intervention.1 For instance, earliest humans attributed floods, famines, and other natural occurrences to spirits and the fact that they were otherwise frustrated or angry with their behavior. However, with the advent of the scientific revolution, identifiable and statistically measurable metrics were provided that helped the average individual to understand the fact that they live in a rational and bounded universe; bounded to science and the processes that it involves. As a function of seeking to understand this scientific revolution to a more demonstrable degree, the following discussion will be based upon how rationalist and empirical epistemologists facilitated a fundamental shift from divine human-based knowledge. Firstly, and perhaps most importantly, the individuals involved within shifting epistemology towards a human-based knowledge most essentially affected the means by which stakeholders within society sought to question the status quo.2 For centuries, the church had held unchecked authority over the way in which individuals understood the world around them. To a varying degree, the overall level to which individuals sought to question this authority was relatively limited. However, with the advent of the scientific revolution, stakeholders within society, although all classes, were encouraged to question the status quo and consider whether or not scientific merit provided a rational and reasonable explanation for the processes and beliefs that they had so long been led to engage with. A secondary manner by which rationalist attempted to provide a fundamental shift from divine to human-based knowledge is with regard to the way in which they sought to use identifiable numbers and processes as a function of proving a particular point. Naturally, this is the very cornerstone of science; however, in centuries past, the league and dictated as the final understanding of whether or not a particular process or

Financial Inclusion in Kiva Org Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 129

Financial Inclusion in Kiva Org - Case Study Example Kiva is one organisation working to bring financial services closer to the excluded the world over and it leverages on technology to achieve its mission. The organisation’s goal is to connect people across the world through lending with the sole aim of alleviating poverty. It gives opportunities for people to lend a minimum of $25 which is used in creating opportunities for poor people around the world. The whole 100% of the lender's money towards funding affordable loans to the needy and once repaid the lenders could withdraw their money in full or lend again to the needy borrowers. Kiva is currently present in 86 countries around the world, works with 293 MFI as field partners and has already disbursed loans worth $683,511,700 with an impressive repayment rate of 98.75% (Kiva.org, 2015) The organisation envisions a world where everyone in the world has the power to create and unleash their own opportunities. For this reason, they are making possible for those who are financially excluded to also access capital that is cheap and safe. Kiva has a worldwide network of volunteers who collaborate with partners to make it possible for the smooth running of its programs. Most of the organisations' funds come from donors and corporate sponsors who share the vision.  Ã‚  

Employment LAw Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Employment LAw - Case Study Example Additionally, there is direct discrimination. The UK company law requires that all employees should undergo rigorous training before undertaking any sought of job. Louise ignores this fact and fails to equip Paul with relevant skills pertaining to his cashier job. In fact, she does not even intend to make arrangements of training the newly employed worker. According to Delaney and Huselid (2010, p. 956), any inconvenience in service delivery is attributed to the lack of training. In this regard, the bank manager takes advantage of his lack of experience and directly mistreats him before the bank clients. The harassment of Paul is humiliating given that the boss victimized him while the bank clients were watching. The Employment Act, 1996, classifies any abuse and disparaging remarks as harassment. The UK equality Act 2010 stipulates that every citizen has a right to fair and non-discriminative treatment (Hofstede, 2008, p. 67). The Act covers discrimination based on sex, disability a nd belief. This situation notwithstanding, the common law includes discriminatory treatment of employees, in the prohibition. The UK legislation also allows all workers to be members of trade unions. The unions serve as a shield for the workers. Besides the common law legislation, the trade union protects the welfare of all employees who have subscribed into trade union membership (Schuler, Randal and Susan, 2008, p. 34). The move of Paul was inappropriate because leaving the job was not a solution to his problem. He should seek the indulgence of the trade union in the matter and invoke the relevant legislation to his favor. There are many options open to Paul. He can seek constructive dismissal from the job, which will call for a comprehensive compensation of service delivery. Paul also has the option of being reemployed by the assistance of the employment tribunal. The UK transfer of the Undertaking Regulation Act

Marketing Plan for Robotic Systems to assist in heart surgeries and Research Paper

Marketing Plan for Robotic Systems to assist in heart surgeries and other invasive surgeries - Research Paper Example For instance, there are more than 41 million people who are above 65 years and the figure will be considerably higher if we include people who are 55 years and above. Indeed, the probability that a patient (in later years of his / her life) would have a bypass, heart and cancer surgery increases; therefore, the surgeons and health professionals have suggested the use of Da Vinci, ZEUS, AESOP and SAR robotic systems as they facilitate during surgery and enhance the performance. Nevertheless, patients that have robotic surgery are quickly recovered as well as have lesser pain during trauma. The distribution firm has planned that it would open 2 new offices in Washington during June and September 2011 – one each at Union Station and Verizon Center. The expected annual sales are $4 – 5 million with net margin of at least 8%. In case the operations remain successful, the distribution firm will expand its operations to New York by opening 2 new offices during January and June 2010 – one each at Manhattan Mall and Trump Tower. 2. Business Description The Robot Systems Suppliers (hypothetical firm) was inaugurated in 2009 and it is proficient in distribution and maintenance of robotic systems that could be used in heart surgeries and others. Indeed, the technological developments have also facilitated doctors, physicians and surgeons to use modern equipments and robots for heart surgeries, for Prostate Cancer, Gastric Bypass and fatal injuries etc. The company not only focuses on the marketing and distribution on the da Vinci systems initially offered in early 21st century, but also it has been offering ZEUS Surgical System for invasive surgeries. It is worthwhile to mention the fact that use of robot systems has been increasing in US healthcare industry because they help saving time and effort during surgery as well as reduce pain and trauma for patients. For instance, the robotic systems also facilitate in faster recovery that, in turn, reduce fi nancial burden on patients since they have to spend fewer amount on medicines and checkups after surgeries. The Robot Systems Suppliers initially commenced its business operations in Los Angeles City in 2009, and today it has already become an established firm in LA, a city of more than 4 million people. The company enjoys annual revenue of $4.5 million and its net profit (15%) was recorded to be under $0.7 million approximately. The major reason behind success of Robot System Suppliers is the constant focus on differentiation and innovation coupled with top quality after-sales-services. The company also provides useful suggestions to robot producers so that they could innovate their existing robotic systems (that are widely used) and create new systems to achieve cost leadership and efficiency. It should be pointed out that there is immense business potential for suppliers of robotic systems in US healthcare industry because of rising population and number of elderly / senior citiz ens (aged 55 years and above). The Robot Systems Suppliers is in strong financial position because its gross profit margin is in range of 25 – 35%, whereas the net profit margin remains in the range of 12 – 20% because the producers tend to offer high commissions to robot distributors. In addition, the profitability increases primarily due to offering of after-sales-servi