The Impact of Technology Essay example -- Technology Technological Pap

The Impact of Technology With the entirety of the new innovation compelling itself into our lives, huge numbers of us can't resist the urge to get sucked into the fervor. So as we battle to make sense of where what's to come is going, we ask ourselves is it fortunate or unfortunate? As I would like to think, it's a tad of both. All that we do utilizes innovation. The PC that I composed this on is one of them. On page 28 in the reading material, there is a short story on the amount we use PCs day by day. Our watches, ATMs, vehicles, TV’s, and Radio's all utilization PCs to work. Envision our lives without it. It would be extreme, isn't that so? Individuals have become so used to the benefits of innovation, existence without it would be hard for the vast majority of us. Phones are a mainstream innovation. Individuals can be seen each day talking or hefting around a PDA. In bigger urban communities they're seen all over. They can be utilized for business and individual use, and they are a significant thing to have when in a crisis. Innovation changes each day making our general public increasingly progressed. A February 17, 2004 article from the Detroit Free Press discusses another watch that accomplishes more than read a clock. As per the article, you can redo the information your watch will get and show. In addition you can set the watch to get MSN texts, show your schedule arrangements (in the event that you have Outlook 2000 mail programming), get nearby, national and worldwide climate information, and show news and custom stock data. The MSN Direct system utilizes FM radio band to transmit data to anyplace that can get its radio gathering. The watch gets its information from the FM signals and shows it on the watch. The watch is known as the Savvy and is made by Fossil. The watch is r... ...be Delphi's XM Roady. Structured distinctly for your vehicle it works through your cassette deck like the SKYFi model. The Raody costs about $119. I'm certain XM Satellite radio will turn out to be amazingly well known. The possibility of no plugs and beyond what 100 channels can suck pretty much anybody in. In any case, to what extent will it be before ads assume control over that as well? Who knows, perhaps advertisements will have their own channel sooner rather than later. XM Satellite radios sound like a good thought and an extraordinary purchase, however I think I'll be holding up until they get somewhat less expensive. Generally I accept what's to come is going a decent way, with significantly more accommodation for everybody. Notwithstanding, we should know about the issues that can happen on the off chance that we depend entirely on innovation. In the event that there is a force blackout, or you have an opportunity, you won't have the option to depend on PCs or innovation to support you.

Washing machines and environmental impact Essay Example

Clothes washers and ecological effect Paper Clothes washers are second just to toilets as the biggest water clients in the home, representing 14 percent of family unit water use. Family water utilization significantly affects oceanic life, particularly when water supplies originate from freshwater lakes and streams. The ROI Grander, as of late named one of the World Wildlife Funds Top 10 Rivers at Risk, has been gone overboard to such an extent that saltwater from the Gulf of Mexico has started moving upstream and jeopardizing local species. O far, 32 Of he waterways 121 local species have been uprooted because of expanded saltiness. Much the same as the ROI Grander, city water supplies are surrendering to saltwater interruption, which happens when expanded siphoning of groundwater permits saltwater pools to penetrate freshwater supplies, making water unfit for human use. Accordingly, urban communities are introducing vitality escalated desalination plants, which require progressively petroleum product determined force that, t hus, adds to a dangerous atmospheric devation. Until this point in time, desalination plants can be found in an ewe states and a few nations. Vitality Issues Keeping clothes washers running additionally requires a lot of petroleum derivative provided vitality that, thusly, discharges around 1 60 pounds of the green house gas carbon dioxide (CA) every year per machine. Simply providing the water for clothes washers expends a lot of vitality. Altogether, water flexibly and treatment offices use around 50 billion kilowatt-hours of the year. In the event that 1 out of each 100 IS. S. Mothers changed to water-productive apparatuses, the vitality reserve funds could arrive at 100 million kHz for each year and diminish ozone harming substance outflows by 75,000 tons. As indicated by ongoing U. S. Natural Protection Agency insights, in any event 36 states are foreseeing neighborhood, local or statewide water deficiencies by 2013. Out West, water clashes have seethed for a considerable length of time, essentially among ranchers, who need water for their yields, and city water purchasers. Urban communities are bit by bit taking more water, which could mean a drawn out battle for little ranchers. We will compose a custom exposition test on Washing machines and natural effect explicitly for you for just $16.38 $13.9/page Request now We will compose a custom paper test on Washing machines and natural effect explicitly for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Recruit Writer We will compose a custom paper test on Washing machines and natural effect explicitly for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Recruit Writer

What Blizzard Jonas really looked like COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog

What Blizzard Jonas really looked like COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog I think weather reporters everywhere  can agree that Blizzard Jonas lived up to their expectations of burying the East Coast in snow.  In the middle of the city, we reached 26.8 inches of snowfall, while Jackson Heights, Queens got 34 inches, and our neighbors in New Jersey and Yonkers measured 39 and 20.5 inches, respectively, reports the National Weather Service. No matter which measuring stick you used, we got a lot of snow, to put it mildly.  You read about that snowfall  online and watched the news footage. But Blizzard Jonas may have  actually  looked  different depending on where you live in New York City. And since  I know many of our applicants arent from around here, I thought it would be nice to share with all of you what Blizzard Jonas looked like in our respective backyards. Here are a few photos from the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid staff and program assistants. At around 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, Blizzard Jonas was in full force. Look at the size of those snowflakes! Photo courtesy of Nina Xu | On campus things were just as snowy. Photo courtesy of Nina Xu | On campus things were just as snowy. Looking up to the sky during a calm moment in the storm. This photo was taken just before 1:00 p.m. on Saturday. Plenty more was to come. The view from a New Jersey backyard. Thanks to Blizzard Jonas, our financial aid officer, Veronika, built her first snowman in NYC this year! She made the new friend at the Great Lawn in Central Park. Sledding in Riverside Park, NYC. PA Eloy visited campus at night to snap this shot. Two snow domes on Morningside Campus. Heres what it looked like from Bronx, NY. So this is the view from my window, with the quintessential NYC fire escape. Theres a little park across the street, and cars parked along that side of the street as well. Ill let you figure out where the street and cars actually are under all of that snow. And because its the Internet, Im sharing a photo of my cat! Due to all the snow, Tanzie can no longer see out the window. It was one sad afternoon for her. [Added at 2:00 p.m.]: Bonus!  Student filmmaker  Kevin Chiu, SEAS 17, captured the moment when the blizzard turned campus into a winter wonderland.

Argumentative Essay on Cervical Cancer - 1312 Words

Shelley Miller Dr. Ashli Dykes Composition 1 12 November 2012 Cervical Cancer Cervical cancer is a cancer that starts in the cervix, the lower part of the uterus, which opens at the top of the vagina. It occurs when abnormal cells on the cervix grow out of control. Cervical cancer can often be successfully treated when it is found early. It is usually fount at a very early stage through a pap-test. Cervical cancer is the third most common type of cancer in the world. Routine pap-smears, in the United States, have narrowed down the disease, unlike other countries. This disease starts in the cells on the surface of the cervix. Of the two types of cells, on the surface of the cervix, squamous and columnar, the majority of cervical†¦show more content†¦The symptoms of advanced cervical cancer includes back pain, bone pain or fractures, fatigue, difficulty urinating, pain when urinating or blood in urine, as well as, leaking of urine or feces from vagina, leg pain, loss of weight and appetite, pelvic pain, single swollen leg, and/or weight loss (PubMed Health). Other symptoms of advanced cervical cancer are diarrhea, or pain or bleeding from the rectum upon defecation, fatigue, and general feeling of illness, and a swollen abdomen, nausea, vomiting, and constipation. (WebM.D.) Most cervical cancer cases start out as HPV (Human papilloma virus), which is a common virus spread through sexual intercourse. There are many types of HPV; however, not all types lead to cervical cancer. Increased risks for cervical cancer can be determined by a woman’s sexual habits. Having sex at a young age, multiple sex partners, or having multiple partners who participate in high risk sexual activities are all examples of risky sexual habits. Other risk factors include poor economic statue, not getting the HPV vaccine, weakened immune system, and being born to a mother who took the DES drug (diethylstilbestrol, which prevented miscarriages), while pregnant. There are many different types of treatment for cervical cancer but it d epends on several things like what stage the cancer is in, size and/or shape of the tumor, the age of a woman, her general health, and her desire of having more children later on. Destroying

5 Benefits of Homeschool Co-Ops

There are many reasons to consider joining a homeschool co-op. A co-op can be an invaluable source of support for homeschool parents who work outside the home. They can also provide enrichment opportunities or be used to supplement what parents are teaching their kids at home. What Is a Homeschool Co-Op? A homeschool co-op is not the same as a homeschool support group. A support group usually serves as a resource for parents and hosts monthly meetings and field trips like park days or dances. A homeschool co-op, short for cooperative, is a group of homeschool families that join to share in the education of their children. Homeschool co-ops offer classes for students and usually require parent participation. Dont expect to drop your kids off at classes or activities. In most cases, parents are actively involved in teaching classes, caring for younger children, or helping with cleaning and other tasks. In other cases, parents may pool their financial resources to hire instructors for the courses offered by the co-op. This  option can be more costly but can be an accessible way to get expert help. Homeschool co-ops can vary in size from a small co-op of only two or three families to a large, organized setting with paid instructors. What Are the Benefits? A homeschool co-op can help both parents and students alike. They can help expand ​the knowledge base of an individual homeschool parent, allow parents to share their expertise with others, and provide student opportunities that would be difficult to achieve outside a group setting. 1. Promote Group Learning A homeschool co-op provides an opportunity for homeschooled children to experience learning in a group atmosphere. Young students learn skills such as raising their hands to speak, taking turns, and waiting in lines. Older students learn more advanced group skills, such as collaborating with others on projects, class participation, and public speaking. Children of all ages learn to take instruction from someone other than a parent and to respect teachers and fellow students. A homeschool co-op can also make what might be a boring class at home alone a much more enjoyable endeavor. It’s a relief for students not to be the one expected to give all the answers. Its also a learning experience for them to get other students input and perspective. 2. Opportunities to Socialize Homeschool co-ops provide socialization opportunities for both the parent and the student. Meeting on a weekly basis provides students with the opportunity to forge friendships. Unfortunately, students may also discover that a co-op presents the opportunity to learn to deal with peer pressure, bullies, and uncooperative students. However, even this downside can lead to valuable lessons that will help kids develop the skills they need to deal with future school and workplace situations. A regular co-op schedule also allows moms and dads to meet other homeschooling parents. They can encourage one another, ask questions, or share ideas. 3. Shared Expenses and Equipment Some subjects require equipment or supplies that can be expensive for a single family to purchase, such as a microscope or quality lab equipment. A homeschool co-op allows for shared expenses and pooling of available resources. If it is necessary to hire an instructor for classes that parents feel unqualified to teach, such as a foreign language or a high school level science course, the expense can be shared among participating families. This makes it possible for many parents to provide top-quality classes. 4. Some Classes Are Difficult to Teach at Home For younger students, homeschool co-ops may offer enrichment classes or those that require more preparation and clean up than everyday studies. These courses may include science, cooking, music, art, or unit studies. Homeschool co-op classes for older students often include lab sciences, such as biology or chemistry, advanced math, writing, or foreign language. There are often opportunities for students to take classes that function better with a group, such as drama, physical education, or orchestra. 5. Accountability Because someone outside your immediate family is setting the schedule, a homeschool co-op can provide a level of accountability. This accountability makes co-op an excellent option for classes that may fall by the wayside at home. Students learn to take deadlines seriously and stay on schedule. Even students who don’t mind telling a parent that they â€Å"forgot† their homework are usually much more reluctant to make such an admission when called on in a classroom setting. While homeschool co-ops aren’t for everyone, many families find that sharing the load, even with only two or three other families, has benefits for everyone involved. Edited by Kris Bales

During protestant reformation Free Essays

Henry Vic’s people became angry with the church, and German monk Martin Luther spoke out (95 theses). B. The Elizabethan Era (p. We will write a custom essay sample on During protestant reformation or any similar topic only for you Order Now 288) Elizabeth l, prove to be great ruler. Sent Sir Francis Drake across globe, and Sir Walter Raleigh tried to put colony in Virginia. Greatest feat is defeating the Spanish Armada. C. The Rise of the Stuart and The Defeat of the Monarchy (p. 289) After death of Elizabeth, James I took throne (Scotland). This angered Catholics after his support of Church of England. Charles I took over in 1625 and relations with Puritans worsened, also after he dismissed Parliament. This put England into civil war. Oliver Cromwell and puritans defeated Royalists. Puritans made a commonwealth. Big set back. Once Charles II came back from exile to assume the throne restoration began. D. The Renaissance (p. 290) Art, poetry, music, theatre, all thriving during this time period. Started in Italy and spread throughout Europe. Life on Earth began to hold more energy and interest than thoughts of afterlife and religion. A renaissance man was a well rounded man who did the best he could with his or her talents. This was the time of Shakespeare, Galileo, and other creative people who invented and developed things to cultivate time period. Such as compass, printing press, and things like that. People began to explore life on earth and began to question many important things. Theatre was huge during this time, and King James Bible was made. The time period concluded in 1660 II. Renaissance Literature A. Pastoral Poems and Sonnets (p. 291) Energy became vibrant in literature. Sir Phillip Sidney, Sir Walter Raleigh and Edmond Spencer all put forth great literature. A pastoral poem is one that represents an idealized manner of shepherd life. Literature of Nature also emerged evilly. B. Shakespearean Drama (up. 292-93) Shakespeare contributed so much to drama and literature during time period. Mystery, mystical and morality plays developed greatly. Interludes and Latin and Greek dramas. He contributed tragedy and Comedies that to this day are famous. Also satires. His plays displayed many events and stories throughout history C. The Rise of Humanism (up. 294-95) Art, History, Philosophy and literature is what Humanists studied. English humanists were Erasmus, Sir Thomas More. Utopia was famous work of literature. Many translations also appeared. D. Spiritual and Devotional Writings (up. 295-96) King James Bible did more to mold English writing than anything. Scholar John Wickedly was scrutinized for his translation of spiritual scripture. King James Bible influenced John Million’s â€Å"Paradise Lost†. Also puritan writer John Bunyan who was famous for his allegory arose during this time. E. The Metaphysical and Cavalier Poets (up. 296-97) Ben Johnson was an accomplished poet related to Shakespeare because of that manner or writing. Ben Johnson had a group of men who followed him called â€Å"Sons of Ben†, this included Robert Heroic, Richard Lovelace, and Sir John Suckling. John Done represents the Metaphysical poets. How to cite During protestant reformation, Papers

Beware of the dog free essay sample

Beware of the Dog: The story is about a pilot during the second world war, the story took place in the area which consists of Britain, France and Germany. The story began while the pilot had a severe injury in his leg which is caused by him getting shot during his flight. He lost the down part of his leg, right down his thigh. In the beginning the pilot was in his cockpit trying to imagine how he will make fun of his injury like it is nothing and it doesnt bother him at all and how he will make fun from it with his comrades and wife. A few moments later he realized that wasnt the real case and the pain was so much until a degree he thought that he was going to pass out; so he decided to bail out before that happens. But regardless what he did, he lost consciousness before he landed. We will write a custom essay sample on Beware of the dog or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page And when he regained his consciousness he found himself in a hospital where there was an army doctor and a nurse who took care of him for few days, the nurse told him he is in Brighton. But while he was laying in his bed he listened to a noise and he could recognize it from the sound of the engines as a German airplanes. And so he asked the nurse about it but she told him he might be mistaken. Later next evening he heard a noise again and it worried him greatly. After that he wanted to check where he really is. He endured his pain and crawled to reach the window and looked outside when he saw a sign where there was something written on it with white paint. He managed at last to read the letters Garde au chien then he looked around and saw the small orchard on the left of a cottage, and just at that moment he realized he is in France. There was just sentence running through his head, a sentence which the intelligent officer of his squadron always repeated to the pilots And if they get you, dont forget, just your name, rank and number. Nothing else. For Gods sake, say nothing else. Later that morning an ordinary R A F officer from the Air Ministry came and told the pilot that he need to answer a few questions to fill the combat report. The pilot in the bed just said My name is Peter Williamson. My rank is Squadron Leader and my number is 972457. Mohanad Zeitoun, gruppe: 120 th

Owned Enterprise under China as a Centrally Planned Economy

China is a global contender for superpower status. The position China occupies in the second decade of the twenty first century is remarkable. Less than a century ago, China was emerging from a feudal past. The country lacked economic and political stability. In its history, the transition of one dynasty to another was Darwinian.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Owned Enterprise under China as a Centrally Planned Economy specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Whenever the ruling dynasty became weak, a rebellion took place and a new dynasty rose power. Throughout its history, China has gone through periods of unification and periods of disintegration. The current socioeconomic profile of the country is a reflection of its rich cultural heritage. It is a consequence of the decisions taken by various leaders of the country across time. The study of the First Lathe Factory of Beijing took place during the reign of Mao. The study, which took place in 1961 by Ma Hong, became public in 1980. It is a very insightful view into the working of the centrally planned economy at the time in history. This is because no scientific literature exists regarding the actual outcomes of the management initiatives undertaken by the Chinese government in the period. The information available refers to plans and self-reported results from the operations of industries. The report by Ma Hong gives a unique view to the dynamics that governed the operations of the First Lathe Factory of Beijing. Since the rules the factory operated under were the same for the entire economy, the findings are valid as a generalized review of the Chinese economy at the time. This paper explores the operations of a centrally planned economy based on the report provided by Ma Hong concerning the First Lathe Factory of Beijing. The paper will put the operations of the factory in historical context in view of Mao’s economic policies. It will also explore the general nature of centrally planned economies, as a basis for the analysis of the operations of the First Lathe Factory of Beijing. Historical Context To understand the importance of the analysis provided in this paper, it is essential to put into historical context the First Lathe Factory of Beijing. The actual factors at play in the factory’s operations reflected the unique cultural history of the Chinese people and political realities of the time. Philosophically, the most influential thinker in Chinese history is Confucius. Confucianism is still predominant in the thinking of modern day China. His enduring legacy is the codification of Chinese ethics. This thinker still serves a unifying personality in the Chinese society.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The events of the first half of the twentieth century also provided context for the operation s of the factory. China did not have an effective central government during this period. Warlords led the country, with a few personalities trying to unify it. The result was persistent war and vulnerability to attacks by foreigners. Mao rose to power in 1949 as the leader of the People’s Republic of China. For almost fifty years prior to Mao’s rule, China went through internal wars and international conflicts. No leader had found success in unifying China. When Mao rose to power, he succeeded in quelling all internal rebellion and ending most external wars. Thereafter, he only fought in wars which China had a realistic chance of winning. Mao’s rise to power came at a time when the Chinese people needed a unifying leader. They wanted someone with the capacity to bring together the entire Chinese people. No leader had succeeded in this effort in almost one century. Therefore, when Mao started establishing communist rule in China, he did not find credible resistan ce. After all, other leaders had had the opportunity to resolve China’s internal problems to no avail. The Chinese people were willing to risk a socialist approach to government. Mao became very powerful because of his popularity as a politician, and his reputation as a strong military leader. The Great Leap Forward Mao attempted to industrialize China rapidly starting in 1958 to 1961 in a program known as the Great Leap Forward. The basis for the Great Leap Forward was to exert greater control over production in China in order to have rapid and coordinated economic growth. Mao believed that this would increase the productivity of the Chinese economy. If Mao was right in theory, he was wrong in practice. However, literature suggests that he was also wrong in theory. At the time, China was not yet a communist state. Therefore, China had a mixed system of capitalist operations with socialist undertones. When Mao started implementing the Great Leap Forward, he upset the traditio nal economy of China. For instance, Mao’s government outlawed private farming. While the intention of this move was to aggregate Chinese agricultural production to allow for greater control, the result was that the country’s food production fell. In fact, the entire Chinese economy faltered during the three years of the Great Leap Forward. The country experienced negative growth in its economy.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Owned Enterprise under China as a Centrally Planned Economy specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In the industrial sector, the government started institution controls relating to the flow of goods and services. Initially, factories sought their own raw materials and found markets for their finished products. During the Great Leap Forward, the government started controlling the flow of raw materials and the rate of production. Government statisticians calculated the required levels of growth and implemented measures aimed at delivering the products needed to support the required levels of growth. The assumption was that if China can sustain a certain level of production, then it would be able to grow economically in order to catch up with the developed world. This large-scale control of raw materials and labor led to serious inefficiencies in the Chinese economy. Raw materials did not move freely. The controls also usurped market forces leading to supply and demand distortions. The Nature of Centrally Planned Economies Centrally planned economies such as the one in operation in China in 1961 have several characteristics. The main feature of centrally planned economies is the control of the flow of raw materials, labor, and markets. The central authorities allocate raw materials to all manufacturers and monitor the distribution of the materials. The allocation of raw material is in tandem with the production quota given to each manufacturer. The central author ity also determines how many people the manufacturer can employ. This way, the authority controls the movement of labor across various sectors. If there is excess production, the central authority approves the exportation of the surplus products. The quantity of products manufactured in a centrally planned economy is not demand driven. The central authority uses historical data and trend analysis to determine the optimum level of production to meet the demand. However, meeting the demand here does not connote a reliance of the forces of demand and supply. The production quotas reflect the desired level of economic productivity. For instance, if the central authority wants the economy to grow by 5%, it makes projections regarding the required levels of productivity to meet this demand. It then passes on these quotas to manufactures.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More One problem associated with centrally planned economies is that the policies developed do not conform to demand and supply patterns. This can lead to overproduction or underproduction of goods and services. Secondly, planned economies tend to stifle entrepreneurship. There is no incentive to improve products because there is no reward for quality. Control also affects profit margins and kills initiative in the part of manufacturers. A benefit that can accrue from a planned economy is that it can help a country to overcome specific challenges such as food production. It is also a good approach to use in the establishment of an industry. The risks of establishing a new industry are usually very high. Therefore, central control can ensure that the outcomes are more predictable. The third advantage of central planning is that it can help in the rapid development of an industry. When left on their own, industries grow slowly based on economic realities, competitive advantage, and the tim e it takes to establishment a market. Central control can help to create the requisite conditions for the success of an industry much faster than organic growth. The First Lathe Factory of Beijing The First Lathe Factory of Beijing was the amalgamation of three companies. The three companies combined to form one of the largest factories in Beijing. It produced industrial machines. From its name, it is clear that its main products were lathe machines. However, the company had a long list of industrial machines it its product catalogues. In addition, it provided repair and maintenance services for its clients in various parts of China. The company mass-produced many machines, but it also handled individual orders. At its peak, the company was one of the largest employers in Beijing. The administrative structure of the company evolved to reflect the changes in the Chinese political landscape. The administration of the factory during the Great Leap Forward consisted of the factory admin istrators running the operations of the factory and power brokers in the power structure of the communist party. In fact, as the government increased its control over the affairs of industries in China, the company experienced power struggles. The management was not sure how much of its administrative duties were in violation of the edicts of the communist party. As such, there was tension at all times between the industry administrators and party leaders. The factory was initially under the First Ministry of Machine Building, but it ceded control to the Government of the Municipality of Beijing. The managers of the factory were generally in charge of administrative decisions such as scheduling of work, allocating houses for the workers and ordering of materials. The political leaders of the communist party developed the production quotas needed to meet the economic objectives of the country. Party officials had a lot of say on matters like the people who would hold offices in the f actory and the overall economic objectives the factory needed to fulfill. Government officials on the other hand implemented the policies developed by the party. The operations of the factory before the rise of Mao were capitalist in nature. The three companies that eventually became the First Lathe Factory of Beijing had international investors in their shareholders list. One of the companies received start up funds from American investors. The financing for the second firm came from Chinese investors, while the third one was a government project. The tumultuous period that ended in 1949 also happens to be the time when the country made the most effort towards achieving a political democracy. As such, the country’s economy as at 1949 had strong elements of capitalism. After the rise of Mao, the Chinese government started tightening controls over many sectors. The Great Leap Forward came with an increase in the controls exerted over companies operating in China. The First Lat he Factory of Beijing was no exception. During the Great Leap Forward, the factory received production quotas from the party. There were controls relating to the raw materials it could use the number of people it could employ and the markets it could sell its products. Getting raw materials became difficult with time. Irons smelters sold iron directly to the government. The government warehouses distributed the iron to factories. In theory, this was supposed to help to optimize the resources of the country. The result was that factories did not receive the raw materials they needed in time. The companies started sending several people to the government warehouses to negotiate for raw materials. Things worsened because of government red tape that made the process of acquiring raw materials very lengthy. The inefficiencies introduced by the restriction of raw materials led to huge economic losses. Lack of access to markets also made Chinese manufacturers uncompetitive because it was i mpossible for them to determine what the customers wanted. One of the fundamental problems associated with the quota system is that because of the reliance on the factories to provide production data, the factory officials had no option but to lie about their production patterns and capacity to cover for the poor decisions made by government officials. After the failure of the Great Leap Forward, Mao orchestrated the Cultural Revolution that lasted from 1966 to 1976. During this period, Mao institutionalized government control over all factors of production, in the direction of a pure communist state. The main problems that are of interest to business management in the operations of the First Lathe Factory of Beijing during the Great Leap Forward are the role of government in business, and the choice between supply-driven and demand-driven management models. The case of the First Lathe Factory of Beijing demonstrated that the successful involvement of government in the running of bu sinesses depends on the level of autonomy given to the factory administrator. The involvement of the government in the affairs of the factory took away its capacity to negotiate with suppliers and to respond to consumer demand. The government ought to remain as a regulator. The pursuit of policy for development should encourage industries to innovate and to become competitive because this guarantees long-term stability. China is still fighting to redeem its image because of the reputation it acquired as a manufacturer of poor quality products. Japan on the other hand is a respected producer of high quality products. The Japanese manufacturing industry developed the Kaizen systems to increase the operational efficiency of manufacturing facilities, and to improve the quality of the products sent to the market. Such a philosophy could not emerge if the Japanese government made the same decisions as the Chinese rulers in 1961. The second fundamental issue to business management is that the forces of demand and supply are more reliable than policy pronouncements regarding demand. Demand cannot emanate from policy pronouncements. Manufacturing lathes for a country that does not need them will not create a demand for lathe machines. Rather, demand for lathe machines should guide the production quotas of lathe machines. In all businesses, demand ought to be the guide and not supply. Demand is dynamic, and it is best to leave individual factories to gauge demand and to respond to consumer needs. It is impossible to control resources and labor at factory level from the level of the central government. Conclusions The creation of state owned enterprises took place by nationalization of existing industries, and merging of small entities into larger ones. When Mao took power, he sought to reform the Chinese economy. He relied on Marxist philosophies and decided against open capitalism. He merged smaller industries to create larger ones, and in the process nationalized indu stries. The government started demanding that factories conform to the party position in economic matters, and went as far as deciding on the levels of labor for use in a factory. The government also decided on the appropriate production quotas of each factory based in party economic goals and not based on market conditions. Thirdly, the government controlled the distribution of products manufactured in the country. The Organization and operation of Chinas state owned enterprises led to the disastrous consequences of the Great Leap Forward. China lost its competitive edge because of the party’s focus on production as opposed to the financial performance of companies. Presently, the country is struggling to overcome the consequences of the poor reputation it developed in the international market as a producer of low quality products. Governments should never micromanage any industry because of lack of expertise, and the emergence of unintended consequences. The experts in the operations of a factory are the workers in that factory. Making decisions regarding the level of staffing and production on behalf of the factory cannot lead to growth. It robs the factory of the opportunity to innovate, to find new markets for its products, and to remain competitive in the international market. Finally, the organizational structure used to manage the Chinese economy show that bureaucratic approaches to economic issues can stifle growth. There were three levels of management of the industries in China. First, the party developed laws and economic policies. Secondly, government official enforces these policies according to the guidance of the party. Thirdly, the management teams from the factories exercised operational control over the factories. These managers had very little space to make strategic decisions because of the policy declarations of the party. Works Cited Bartlett, Christopher A and Arar Han. Levendary Cafe: The China Challenge. Boston, MA: Havard Busi ness School Publishing, 2011. Print. Bramall, C. Chinese Economic Development. New York: Routledge, 2009.Print. Chow, Gregory C. China’s Economic Transformation. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing, 2007. Print. —. Chinese Economy. Teaneck, NJ: World Scientific, 1987.Print Dube, Line, Carmen Berner and Vital Roy. â€Å"Taking on the Challenge of IT Management in a Global Business Context: The Alcan Case – Part A.† International Journal of Case Studies in Management 7.2 (2009): 1-13. Print. East Asia Quarterly. â€Å"Are China’s Multinational Corporations Really Multinational?† East Asia Quarterly April-June 2012. Print Goldman, Geoff and Celile Nieuwenhuizen. Strategy: Sustaining Competitive Advantage in a Globalised Context. Cape Town: Juta and Co Ltd, 2006. Print. Lavigne, M. The Economics of Transition: From Socialist Economy to Market Economy. New York: St. Martin Press, 1999. Print Mongay, Jorge. Business and Investments in Asia. Madrid: ESIC Editorial, 2011. Print Zhu, Zhiqun. China’s New Diplomacy: Rationale, Strategies and Significance. Burlington, VT: Ashgate Publishing, 2010. 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U.S. Force in Iraq essays

U.S. Force in Iraq essays The U.S. involvement in Iraq may go down as one of the most controversial wars in history even more so than the Vietnam War. Why? Because the basic premise for invading Iraq was false. There were no weapons of mass destruction, and so, there was no reason to invade the country, other than they were under the iron rule of a brutal and power-hungry dictator, of course. However, the question remains, is this a compelling reason to use force? Some might say yes, that it is the United States' duty to ensure democracy and civil rights across the globe. Others vehemently disagree. What most people around the world do agree on is that the U.S. use of force in Iraq has had enduring consequences on the way the U.S. is perceived around the world. Many consequences arise from the use of force in Iraq. One important consequence is the people's safety here at home. Military recruiting is down. Young people do not want to join the Armed Forces when it is quite clear they could die in Iraq or Afghanistan (or any number of places, for that matter). This shortage results in fewer qualified members of the armed forces, and leaves fewer in America to protect against terrorism and attack. Thus, the American military is spread thin, and will be spread even thinner when National Guard troops are deployed to the U.S. Mexican border to guard against illegal entrance next month. This leaves the country more vulnerable to terrorism and natural disaster. Witness the results of Hurricane Katrina, where it took days for emergency crews, including National Guard troops, to enter the city and begin a rescue effort. This indicates just how thinly the military is spread, and this is a direct result of U.S. force in Iraq. Another important consequence of U.S. involvement is the deaths of over 2,600 coalition force members. That includes 2,463 Americans, as of May 25, 2006. Almost 18,000 military personnel have been wounded during the war, ...

Health system policy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Health system policy - Essay Example Providing care to patients infected by resistant organisms invariably leads to considerable cost not only on the part of the patient, but also on the care providers. To reduce the cost, morbidity, mortality, and stakeholder dissatisfaction, therefore, administrative strategies have been used at the government and policy levels. These policies have significant implications towards solving these problems in the healthcare. For example, it has been noted that control of antibiotic usage, pharmacy or infectious diseases consultation for antibiotic usage, surveillance of resistance rates of specific and prevalent pathogens, development of institutional infection control policies and guidelines, all may cause a decline in healthcare associated infection rates (Johnston. and Bryce, 2009). Policy only is not sufficient; in fact surveillance of policy implementation and evaluation of policy is a very important aspect of health system infection control policy. Almost in all countries including Australia, numerous hospital-based strategies have been developed and implemented in order to prevent such infections. Some of these policies have been tested also. In some cases these guidelines are augmented with regular updates to frame specific and mandatory guidelines that aim at prevention of transmission of pathogenic bacteria to people who are ill otherwise within the hospital based healthcare setting. Several studies unfortunately indicate gaps in implementation of these policies since there were variabilities in practices and outcomes (Reingold, 1998). The CDC initiated study on nosocomial infection control policies identified the positive roles of infection control components in reducing the hospital-associated infection rates. Although this was conducted in a different country, it successfully identified the four main

The Art of Balancing Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Art of Balancing - Assignment Example The examples of such scenarios are rampant around the world, where a few people have decided that there exists a need for change and have gone about it the wrong way resulting in utter failure which has had dire consequences for their cause. This essay discusses the works and leadership tactics of one of the greatest change leaders of our times, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, who lead his nation out of the darkness of the Apartheid and into the burgeoning future, and who has been called one of the most instrumental and inspirational politicians of this century. One of Mandela’s most striking aptitude had been the ability to stay calm under intense pressure and to keep his fear under check so that those who followed him could go. According to Stengel (2008), it was not Mandela’s absence of fear, rather his ability to move beyond it, that managed to make him such an inspirational role model for his people. Researchers such as Groves (2006), note that emotional expressivity is one of the most important skills that a visionary leader has and that it directly affects the level of influence that leader has on the actions of his followers. Hence a leader and his ability to express his emotions a certain way under varying circumstances have a direct impact on the way his followers will react to that same situations. The great leader claims himself that there were many times during his imprisonment in the Robben Island jail, that he was afraid for his life and for the life of the revolutionary change that he wanted to create, but it was his ability to focus beyond the fear which allowed him to maintain and keep strong the faith of those who looked up to him as their leader. As the leader of the African National Congress, and has led an armed struggle against the government, it was to his fellows a great shock when Mandela began negotiations with the government during his imprisonment.  

Implications of the TRAPPIST-1 Discovery

Implications of the TRAPPIST-1 Discovery The Search for Extra-Terrestrial Life in the Universe and the Implications of the TRAPPIST-1 Discovery Abstract Despite the absence of any discovery of life beyond the Earth in the Solar System, or communication in the form of radio signals from beyond the Solar System, humankinds quest to answer the question whether there is life elsewhere in the Universe continues apace. The answer to the question could be tantalizingly close now with some ambitious missions being planned in the Solar System to try and find life itself, and surveys of unprecedented scale being conducted with space and terrestrial telescopes to identify potentially habitable exoplanets showing evidence for the existence of life. One such survey (the TRAPPIST survey) led to the discovery of a nearby solar system with a dwarf star at its centre, and in February this year the existence of seven Earth-sized planets orbiting the star was confirmed, with at least three lying in the habitable zone. Studies are continuing to see if there is evidence for the existence of life on any of these planets, with profound astronomical implica tions. This dissertation considers the question of what is life, before reviewing the history and future of the search for extra-terrestrial life in the Universe. The techniques employed and the results from the TRAPPIST survey are reviewed and the implications of the follow-on studies that are now planned are discussed. It concludes by considering the question whether humankind will ever encounter intelligent life in the Universe.      Ã‚   Thomas Zurbuchen Associate administrator of the Science Mission Directorate at NASA speaking at the press briefing about the TRAPPIST-1 exoplanets in February 2017 The Search for Extra-Terrestrial Life in the Universe Contents 1.Introduction 2.What is Life? 3.Pre-requisites for Life 5.History of the Search for Life Beyond Earth Works Cited References The Search for Extra-Terrestrial Life in the Universe Introduction Despite the absence of any discovery of life beyond the Earth in the Solar System, or communication in the form of radio signals from beyond the Solar System, humankinds quest to answer the question whether there is life elsewhere in the Universe continues apace. Exobiology the search for life or for evidence of it has been stimulated by the extraordinary success of missions to planets and other bodies in the Solar System and the rapid advances that have been made in telescope technology in recent decades. The answer to the question could be tantalizingly close now with some ambitious missions being planned in the Solar System to try and find life itself, and surveys of unprecedented scale being conducted with space and terrestrial telescopes to identify potentially habitable exoplanets showing evidence for the existence of life. One such survey (the TRAPPIST survey) led to the discovery of a nearby solar system with a dwarf star at its centre, and in February this year the existence of seven Earth-sized planets orbiting the star was confirmed, with at least three lying in the habitable zone. Studies are continuing to see if there is evidence for the existence of life on any of these planets, with profound astronomical implications. This dissertation considers the question of what is life, before reviewing the history and future of the search for extra-terrestrial life in the Universe. The techniques employed and the results from the TRAPPIST survey are reviewed and the implications of the follow-on studies that are now planned are discussed. It concludes by considering the question whether humankind will ever encounter intelligent life in the Universe. What is Life? Is there life elsewhere in the universe? Before setting out to answer that question we need to understand what we mean by life. In popular culture extra-terrestrial life is usually characterised by intelligent humanoid creatures with whom mankind can interact and communicate, but one only has to look at the diversity of life on Earth to appreciate that there are countless life forms, each unique and a product of the environment it inhabits. Nor can all life forms on Earth necessarily be described as intelligent, perhaps as defined by the Oxford Concise Dictionary: The ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills. It is reasonable to assume that an ability to communicate is essential if a species is to be described as intelligent, but intelligence is not a pre-requisite for the development of life. There are many scientific definitions of life, such as that offered by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary; An organismic state characterized by capacity for metabolism, growth, reaction to stimuli, and reproduction. This definition is helpful but it does not explicitly recognise that the ability to evolve, particularly in a changing environment, is vital for the development of sustainable life. Mankind has expended considerable effort over the millennia trying to understand the cosmos. The ancients saw it as a place inhabited by the gods, but as astronomy developed, and with it our understanding of the Solar System and the Universe, we began to ask the question, Are we alone?, or perhaps more precisely, Are there others out there like us? Perhaps the question we have been seeking to answer should really have been in two parts; Is there life elsewhere in the universe, and if so is it intelligent and would we be able to interact with it in some way? Pre-requisites for Life Earth is the only place where it is possible today to study living things and fossils to understand life, its evolution and the habitats where it can thrive. On Earth life is found in many extreme environments including; around volcanic vents on the mid-ocean ridges; in deeply-buried porous sedimentary rocks (Bruckner, 2017); permanently in caves; in glacier ice (Edwards, 2014); in thermal springs; in the stratosphere (Major, 2016) and in naturally toxic environments that would be poisonous to most other life forms. Despite the abundance of life on the surface of the Earth it has been suggested that there may even be more life below the surface than there is above (Cox, 2013). Figure 1: Colony of Deepsea Tube Worms and other fauna at the Galapagos Rift. (Photo: NOAA 2011 Galapagos Rift Expedition) Figure 2: A loach, a permanent cave-dwelling fish that crawls out of the water to feed on bacteria growing on damp rocks. (Photo: Dantà © Fenolio) All terrestrial life exhibits metabolism, which is a chemical process to harvest energy from the environment to maintain the living state of the cells that make up an organism. Metabolism involves moving and breaking down nutrients in order to produce energy to synthesize new proteins, nucleic acids etc. that are essential to sustain life (Dr Ananya Mandal, 2013). All terrestrial life is based on the carbon atom, which can form chemical bonds to create the long and complex organic molecules that are the essential building blocks for life (Freeman, 2011). All terrestrial life is also reliant on liquid water as the medium within which the metabolic process occurs. Without liquid water there can be no metabolism and therefore no life, as demonstrated by the Atacama Desert the driest place on Earth where there is no evidence for the existence of any living organisms (Cox, 2013). It is generally accepted that the pre-requisites for life are; Access to nutrients that contain the chemical elements necessary for life; An energy source that can be harvested directly or indirectly; and Liquid water. Given that all elements occur throughout the Universe, as do stars that emit energy in the form of photons, the most obvious place to look for extra-terrestrial life is on the surface of planets where there is likely to be liquid water. In any solar system there will be a region around the star within which the temperature is such that water will exist as a liquid. This is known as the Habitable Zone. The distance of the habitable zone from the star and its extent will be a function of the spectral type (and therefore mass) of the star and can be estimated using the Inverse Square Law, assuming the existence of an atmosphere with sufficient density to prevent sublimation of the water. The figure below shows the extent of the habitable zone for various star masses, with the Solar System planets and the exoplanets orbiting the red dwarf star Gliese 581 superimposed. Figure 3: The habitable zone as a function of stellar mass and distance from the star (Chester Harman, Planets: PHL at UPR Arecibo, NASA/JPL/APL/Arizona) Another potential habitat for life is on the moons of large planets with elliptical orbits are subjected to tidal heating caused by tidal friction. Orbital and rotational energy is dissipated as heat in the crust of the moon, in some cases melting the ice and forming an ocean beneath the ice crust. Two known examples of this in the Solar System are Jupiters moon Europa and Saturns moon Enceladus. It is postulated that life could also exist below the surface of Jupiters moon Io where there is plentiful heat to keep any water that was trapped in a liquid state, and where living organisms would be protected from Jupiters radiation (Choi, 2010). The Origin and Evolution of Life on Earth and Elsewhere Through the study of living organisms the pre-requisites for life are reasonably well understood, as is the evolutionary process through inter alia the study of fossils. However, to answer the question of how life came to be established on Earth it is also necessary to look beyond the Earth for clues. The elements that make up organic molecules are very abundant in the Universe and are known to originate from non-biological processes (e.g. volcanic activity on Mars (Carnegie Instution, 2012)) and there is a lot of evidence to suggest organic molecules are widespread in the galaxy, e.g.: Iso-propyl cyanide has been detected by examining microwave emission lines in inter-stellar clouds in the Milky Way (BBC, 2014). Organic molecules have been detected using spectral analysis in the tails of comets. The Rosetta mission to comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko also detected organic molecules (ESA, 2016). Organic molecules have also been found in certain types of meteorite collected on Earth. Carbonaceous chondrites are rare meteorites that have not melted at any stage of their life so are thought to pre-date the Solar System. They contain substantial amounts of carbon, including complex organic compounds and occasionally amino acids, and up to 20% water (Freeman, 2011). In the early Solar System comets and meteorides were very numerous and according to the Panspermia Hypothesis they seeded the Universe with simple life forms that got trapped in ejecta thrown into space when collisions occurred between planets and moons. This theory was given credence when living bacteria was found in a sealed camera recovered and brought back to Earth by the Apollo 12 astronauts from the Surveyor 3 spacecraft. Surveyor 3 had been on the lunar surface for three years. Another possibility is that organic molecules were formed on Earth, as hypothesised by Oparin and Haldane (Oparin, 1924). In 1952 Miller and Urey conducted their famous laboratory experiment which simulated conditions on early Earth. They mixed water, ammonia, methane and hydrogen in an atmosphere of water vapour, through which electric sparks were fired regularly to simulate lightening. At the end of the experiment they discovered that amino acids had indeed formed, giving credence to this hypothesis (Miller, 1953). Figure 4: The Miller-Uray apparatus Once all the right ingredients were present something kick-started life on Earth, and/or elsewhere in the Universe if the Panspermia Hypothesis is right. It is not possible today to conclude how life originated on Earth, but in any event the fossil record shows that the first simple living organisms appeared on Earth around 3.8 billion years ago, and so began the process of evolution producing the incredible diversity of life on Earth today. Whether life was kick-started on Earth or arrived from elsewhere is arguably one of the most important factors influencing the possible distribution of extra-terrestrial life, and is discussed again in Section xx. History of the Search for Life Beyond Earth NASA was established by an act of the US Congress in 1958, mainly in response to the launch by the Soviet Union of Sputnik 1. Most of its efforts were initially concentrated on the development of manned and unmanned space flight, but in the 1970s exploration of the Solar System using scientific probes began, driven to a large extent by the search for life beyond Earth. NASA began a broad-based effort to learn how to look for the presence both ancient and current of life beyond Earth, giving birth to a new science which became known as Exobiology. The fundamental questions that NASA set out to answer were; What is needed for life to thrive? How does life evolve? Where else in the Universe could it have evolved? How do we find it? In time it was acknowledged that to help answer these questions the detailed study of life on Earth was necessary to understand the origins and evolution of life and the habitats where it is found. The scope of exobiology expanded and it became known as Astrobiology (Freeman, 2011). During the 1960s a number of European countries started to get involved in space exploration, eventually clubbing together to form the European Space Agency (ESA) in 1975, bringing more resources to the exploration effort. The Search for Evidence of Intelligent Life In 1959 Guiseppe Cocconi and Philip Morrison observed that if intelligent extra-terrestrial life had been attempting to communicate it would probably have been doing so using radio waves transmitted at the wavelength of neutral hydrogen (21.1 cm), which is in a region of the radio spectrum dubbed the water hole due to its proximity to the hydrogen and hydroxyl radical spectral line. These radio waves do not experience diminution when they travel through the interstellar medium or through the Earths atmosphere and they argued that it should therefore be possible to detect such signals with terrestrial radio telescopes because (Cocconi Morrison, 1959). In 1960 Dr Frank Drake used the radio telescope at the National Astronomy Observatory in West Virginia to search for four months for radio signals with a wavelength of 21.1 cm emanating from the vicinity of nearby stars Epsilon Eridani and Tau Ceti (Drake, 1961). He failed to detect any signals but this heralded the beginning of SETI (the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence). Since the 1980s there has been an international collaborative effort to detect meaningful signals across an increasingly wide range of wavelengths, but although occasional signals have been detected they have not been sustained or repeated, which suggests they were not produced by an intelligent life form seeking to communicate. Notwithstanding this, the search continues. The Search for Suitable Habitats and Evidence for the Existence of Life Aristotle was the first to observe life in snow as a snow algal bloom. These occur as algae produce reddish-pink blooms (watermelon snow) as seen in this sample of Svalbard snow. The reddish-pink pigments are a microbial sunscreen, protecting the algae from UV radiation. Photo credit: Dr Arwyn Edwards (Edwards, 2014) Drake Stars w/ mass > 1.5o unlikely to support life humans took 4bn + yrs Small stars long life but low temp, planets have to be close but then gravity locked v. low POS based on current understanding = sun-like star- low rate of formation; 1:10 w/ habitable zone Implications of Trappist-1 results and historical assumptions The Probability of There Being Extra-Terrestrial Life in the Universe The Drake Equation The Drake equation is: N = Rà ¢Ã‹â€ - à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ ¹Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ fp à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ ¹Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ ne à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ ¹Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ fà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã¢â‚¬Å" à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ ¹Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ fi à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ ¹Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ fc à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ ¹Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ L where: N = the number of civilizations in our galaxy with which communication might be possible (i.e. which are on our current past light cone); and R* = the average rate of star formation in our galaxy fp = the fraction of those stars that have planets ne = the average number of planets that can potentially support life per star that has planets fl = the fraction of planets that could support life that actually develop life at some point fi = the fraction of planets with life that actually go on to develop intelligent life (civilizations) fc = the fraction of civilizations that develop a technology that releases detectable signs of their existence into space L = the length of time for which such civilizations release detectable signals into space No table of figures entries found. 2. Prof BBC. (2014). Complex organic molecule found in interstellar space. Bruckner, M. (2017). Endoliths-Microbes Living within Rocks. Microbial Life. Carnegie Instution. (2012). Organic carbon from Mars, but not biological. Science Daily. Cox, P. B. (2013). Wonders of the Solar System. Dr Ananya Mandal, M. (2013). What is Metabolism? Edwards, D. A. (2014). Glacier Ecosystems. Antarctic Glaciers. ESA. (2016). Rosettas comet contains ingredients for life. Freeman, R. (2011). Universe Ninth Edition. J. Mayo Greenberg, C. X.-G. (1992). The seeding of life by comets. Advances in Space Research. Major, J. (2016). Hunting for High Life: What Lives in Earths Stratosphere? Universe Today. Oparin, A. I. (1924). The Origin Of Life. The Oxford Concise Dictionary. (n.d.).   Ã‚   http://www.news-medical.net/life-sciences/What-is-Metabolism.aspx https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120524143450.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panspermia https://history.nasa.gov/factsheet.htm https://astrobiology.nasa.gov/about/history-of-astrobiology/ http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Welcome_to_ESA/ESA_history/History_of_Europe_in_space Ken Rice : The Detection and Characterization of Extrasolar Planets; Published: 19 September 2014

Cormac McCarthy’s “The Road” Essay

A novel entitled ‘The Road’ sparks the image of a journey, not necessarily one concerning movement, but an experience, where by the time you reach the ‘destination’ you have either witnessed something or come-by certain things which may affect you as a person, changed the way you think or possibly had an effect on your personal ethics. For example, a mental journey, whereby somebody lives through a certain period in their life and comes out the other end with a new perspective and attitude, like in J.D. Salinger’s ‘The Catcher in the Rye’. Another type of journey is an actual physical one ‘from A to B’; at the destination in this type of journey one may feel a sense of achievement and arrive at ‘B’ with scores of anecdotes and stories that can range from little events that make a good joke to events which may actually change you as a person. Writing about journeys like these is a genre of writing in its own right: Travel Writing, an example being John Steinbeck’s ‘Travels with Charley’. The third type of journey that I associate with the phrase ‘The Road’ is the concept of being on an open road, simply going with no particular interest in where you may arrive, simply the journey itself has its importance. This may simply be on a whim or yearning for open road or maybe because of a need to travel, to not stop and just keep going and perhaps to get away from something, an example of this is the film ‘Thelma and Louise’. This is a key image in American Culture, not only featured in many novels and films but important simply because it represents a freedom to be who you want to be. The open road offers new horizons and the prospect to witness new and unexpected things. This idea represents the liberty and freedom found in America The way in which the protagonists travel in ‘The Road’ is not the picture perfect, open road, free spirited adventure, they rarely travel on the actual road, to avoid being seen by others who may want their belongings and food. ‘This was not a safe place. They could be seen from the road’. The iconic concept of the open-ness and the freedom associated with it is no longer present in Cormac McCarthy’s America. The idea of the road being such a dangerous and deadly place and the paranoia of the man is installed firmly in the readers head by the fourth page, when it discusses the shopping trolley the man has in which he carries all his possessions, food, blankets and tarpaulin. On the handlebars of the trolley the man clamped a ‘chrome motorcycle mirror that he used to watch the road behind him’ which shows that whoever is left in his world isn’t to be trusted and it’s a ‘fend for yourself’ environment with none of the trust and neighbourliness that America is famous for. In the post-apocalyptic world portrayed in ‘The Road’ we see an utter breakdown in the sense of community and the ‘love thy neighbour’ ethic for which America is renowned. In the book, the few people the man and child come across are treated with utter caution or are avoided altogether and people who need help are ignored. An example of this would be when they come across the man who has been hit by lightning and they don’t help him. The son cries for his father to help the man, but he bluntly refuses and does nothing. This is an accurate account of how some people may react in today’s world where help may not be given to the man by some people so as not involve themselves, but the good thing to do would, of course, be to seek medical help. Traditional American values would instruct that one do the good thing and aid the lightning struck man. Another good example of the lack of common ethics is when the stranger robs all their belongings and they run after him and not only get it back, but also take everything he has on him, including his clothes. The fact that the man and robber are prepared to leave the other to die of the cold and starvation, represents how McCarthy’s world has changed human nature and the love thy neighbour and ‘do unto others only what you would want done to yourself’ ethics are left disregarded and one cares for no-one but themselves.. ‘I’m starving, man. You’d have done the same. You took everything. Come on man. I’ll die.’ This proves my point that the people left will do anything to survive even if that worsens the chances of another individual. For me, the theme that is present throughout the book and had me contrasting McCarthy’s world to today’s is the relationship between the father and son. The young child is, of course, dependent on his father for food, guidance and moral support like most children are today and this image is strong in America with the concept of a nuclear, wholesome family being very important. In the book, whilst the sense of community may have collapsed, the father-son relationship is very strong; they care for each other, keep each other company and the father brings the child up as best he can, but in Cormac McCarthy’s world nothing is left quite the same. What unsettled me was how freely the child spoke about their possible impending death and themes of a similar nature. The situation in which this child has been reared has left him matured beyond his years, an example showing this being when he asks his dad, ‘You think we are going to die don’t you? We’re not going to die. Okay.’ The child is so unfazed by the topic and it strikes me as odd and proves how even something as simple as the carefree thoughts of a child have been distorted by the world and lifestyle of the people within the America McCarthy depicts. Within the story there are two scenes that are stuck in my mind because of their vividness and brutality. Firstly, when the father and son break into a house and find dismembered, burnt people locked in the basement, a man with his legs ‘gone to the hip’. These people are being held very much like poorly treated animals or cattle, probably to be eaten, because the people are so desperate for food they have resorted to what is one of the most taboo and strictly forbidden act in most societies, cannibalism. Also the setting of their incarceration is chilling and something only thought of in nightmares. Secondly, when the father and son come across the baby gutted and placed on the spit roast in preparation for a meal. America prides itself on the fact that it’s a ‘free country’. This phrase is thrown around a lot but it basically means that people there have a freedom to say and do what they want as long as it doesn’t break the law. The people locked in the cellar certainly aren’t free and them being held captive shows how extreme people may have become out of starvation and desperation to survive disregarding their previously strong believe in freedom and equality. This is also interesting because it wouldn’t be the first time slavery has been an issue in America. After the Thirteenth Amendment to the US Constitution, which was passed in 1865, slavery was made illegal in America and equality reigns. The change was accepted after years of fighting and now America sees itself as a fair nation with racism and the plight of the black man as less of an issue, a good example being that the first black American President is going to be inaugurated January 20th of the coming year. Cormac McCarthy’s book portrays this ethic of us all being of the same level of importance being readily ignored by those in need to feed themselves and survive. In the news we often hear about anti-abortion lobbyists and pro-life rallies, especially in America. In Cormac McCarthy’s book the protagonists see a group of people travelling with impregnated women and then the man and son walk through the abandoned camp of these people and find a gutted baby on the spit-roast. If you put the two together the idea may strike you that women are being impregnated for the sole purpose of the ‘meat’ they’ll produce. In today’s world this would be considered ungodly and unmentionable and not only brings up the topic of cannibalism but also the controversial theme of abortion which is utterly ignored in McCarthy’s world and the fact that it has gone beyond mere cannibalism but the actual production of babies for meat shows the pure desperation of some to survive and the ethical issue which is so very important today, ignored. In the scene the author refers to the baby itself very impersonally, as if it’s a piece of meat and nothing more. The author describes it as a ‘human infant, headless, gutless and blackening on the spit’, very brief and to the point much like one may have described it were it a common farm animal. If it weren’t for the ‘human infant’ part it may well have been anything, the author does little to humanise the creature on the spit-roast. I think this may be simply to shield the reader and avoid the text being too explicit but also to show how this is largely commonplace in McCarthy’s world and that whilst shocking to the more good-willed protagonists, for some it is merely a case of survival. America is often referred to as the land of plenty, with its almost endless resources, especially of food. The poignant scene in which the father finds what could possibly be the last coke can on earth shows just how much has changed in McCarthy’s world and introduces the notion of how we take too much for granted. In the scene with the coke can the author describes ‘drinks machines†¦tilted on the floor, opened with pry bars’. This shows the desperation of mankind for such objects like Coca Cola, which are integral to lifestyles in modern society and inexplicable to those who haven’t witnessed it. People now never think such ubiquitous items will run out. What makes the scene sadder is the fact that this iconic can which nowadays is seen in many pieces of pop-artwork, has hundreds if not thousands of adverts worldwide and is truly a universally recognized brand, isn’t recognized by the child, showing how in McCarthy’s world this idea of a constant, ready supply of everything is simply no longer the case, especially with food. Throughout the book, punctuation is hardly used; with no speech marks and few commas and the father and son aren’t, at any point, referred to by name. I believe that this is to further the image that Cormac McCarthy is portraying; conveying the fact that the breakdown of society and nature is such that things like punctuation and the names of the characters, no longer are of any importance as there are more important things, survival for instance and by dropping things like the names it leaves the reader to focus more upon the father-son relationship and less on the more trivial details. The ‘American Dream’ is the concept of everybody reaching his or her full potential and having the ability to fulfil their hearts desire, in the land of opportunity that America is famous for. People often immigrate to America to start a business or career in either the music industry or maybe acting. In the book rather than going to America in the hope of having it all, money, glamour, the sweet life, people are trying to leave because they have nothing. It shows how different this bleak world his and how everything has turned on its head. The phrase itself, ‘American Dream’ was coined by James Truslow Adams in his book, published in 1931, called ‘The Epic of America’; in the book his definition for it is ‘that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone’ but in McCarthy’s world, for anyone surviving there is nothing left of the original values of America, the living are in some cases, hunted for food, their freedom compromised for fear and ultimately nothing remains as it was.

Reflection Management Style Essay

The achievement of an organization depends on the effective management of the administrative team. The information obtained throughout this course for the management styles, good and poor qualities, and the different scenarios which managers may encounter will be reconnoitered. The results of a management quiz taken at the beginning of this course along with the results from a current quiz will be compared and the differences clarified. The course has enlightened the roles of management in the health organization and the extent of the accomplishments the management teams involvement can contribute. The management methods and styles reflect on an individual’s interpersonal and intrapersonal assessments of him or herself. A manager needs to analyze his or her goals within an organization to implement the motivation of others within an organization. As a manager, a person must realize that there will be conflicts, victories, and obstacles that may hinder his or her ideas or goals for the company. A consistent analyzes of an organization will assist in making the changes needed for success. Realizing that all managers are human, and human error may occur is a quality that managers and others need to consider. The best quality a manager can have is to be open-minded to ideas from others, be humble, and compassionate. In the health care industry there is an abundance of burnout, therefore for managers to reduce this in his or her organization she or he must be aware of the signs and implement a course of action to assist in the reduction. The motivation versus engaged is one of the valuable areas to consider when overseeing an organization. Engaged employees are more productive, focused, loyal, and contribute to the organization as a whole (Buchbinder, 2012). When individuals are involved in company decisions this assists in less burnout and turnover in the employees. One of the poorest qualities in a management team is not getting the input from the employees prior to making a vast change within an organization. The manager must be aware of how the employees feel about the change and compute the information to understand if the change is beneficial for the organization. However, some changes need to occur even though the employees do not encourage the change. This is why the manager needs to know how to relay the information  diplomatically, the reasons, how the change will be implemented, and the benefits of the change. If the manager does not inform the staff of what, why, or how then the organization could have devastating results in any scenario. Managers realize there are many scenarios to different areas of the organization. There is not a one-size-fits-all solution for organizational challenges. The plan of implementation must be customized to the group affected. The culture of most organizations is substantially diverse. This is why managers need the skills to understand, the knowledge to analyze scenarios, and the will to implement change. However, the manager is only as good as his or her employees. Results from the first management quiz displayed the need for improvement in team management (Center T. M., 2014). The challenge of realizing that others goals may not be the same as yours is a challenge, but realizing the needs of others and listening can assist in overcoming this obstacle. The results from the current quiz did not veer much from the first (Center M. , 2014). The skills of team management are an area needing the most improvement, and over time this will occur with practice and doing follow through will developing skills. Learning and overcoming challenges are important is a manager’s duties. Managers are always developing his or her professional lives, as well as his or her personal life. Self-motivation will assist in overcoming obstacles in one’s life. Managers are a valuable part of any organization, but without the skills to organize, motivate, and implement changes his or her contribution may hinder success in the organization. A person needs to realize the diversity in his or her employees, the culture of an organization, and the different scenarios he or she may encounter. Development of good qualities can assist in managing others. Some of these qualities include being open-minded, compassionate, and being humble. Developing skills in team management and motivation of others is a valuable asset to any manager. If managers understand the culture of an organization and relay this information effectively to the employees, the organization benefits from all venues encountered. References Buchbinder, S. B. (2012). Chapter 3 Management and Motivation. Introduction to Health Care Management, 2e, 2, 444-448. Jones and Barlett Publishers. Center, M. (2014). Qiuz Results 8-9-14. The Management Center. ManagementCenter.org. Retrieved August 9, 2014, from http://managementcenter.org/quiz/results/3013 Center, T. M. (2014). Quiz results 07-11-2014. The Management Center. ManagementCenter.org. Retrieved July 11, 2014, from http://managementcenter.org/quiz/results/2628

The Varied Size of the Roman Legions

Even in the course of a military campaign, the size of a Roman legion varied because, unlike the case of the Persian Immortals, there wasnt always someone waiting in the wings to take over when a legionary (​miles legionarius) was slain, taken prisoner or incapacitated in battle. Roman legions varied over time not only in size but in number. In an article estimating population size in ancient Rome, Lorne H. Ward says that up to at least the time of the Second Punic War, a maximum of around 10% of the population would be mobilized in the case of a national emergency, which he says would be about 10,000 men or about two legions. Ward comments that in the early, close-to-annual border skirmishes, only the number of men in half a conventional legion might be deployed. Early Composition of the Roman Legions The earliest Roman army consisted of a general levy which was raised from the aristocratic landowners .... based on the three tribes, each of which provided 1000 infantry.... Each of the three corps of 1000 comprised ten groups or centuries, corresponding to the ten curiae of each tribe.—Cary and Scullard The Roman armies (exercitus) were composed mainly of Roman legions from the time of the legendary reforms of King Servius Tullius [also see Mommsen], according to ancient historians Cary and Scullard. The name for the legions comes from the word for the levy (legio from a Latin verb for to choose [legere]) that was made on the basis of wealth, in the new tribes Tullius is also supposed to have created. Each legion was to have 60 centuries of infantry. A century is literally 100 (elsewhere, you see a century in the context of 100 years), so the legion would have originally had 6000 infantrymen. There were also auxiliaries, cavalry, and non-combatant hangers-on. In the time of the kings, there may have been 6 centuries of cavalry (equites) or Tullius may have increased the number of equestrian centuries from 6 to 18, which were divided into 60 units called turmae* (turma in the singular).Increasing Number of LegionsWhen the Roman Republic started, with two consuls as leaders, each cons ul had command over two legions. These were numbered I-IV. The number of men, organization and selection methods changed over time. The tenth (X) was Julius Caesars famous legion. It was also named Legio X Equestris. Later, when it was combined with soldiers from other legions, it became Legio X Gemina. By the time of the first Roman emperor, Augustus, there were already 28 legions, most of which were commanded by a senatorial legate. During the Imperial period, there was a core of 30 legions, according to military historian Adrian Goldsworthy. Republican Period Roman ancient historians Livy and Sallust mention that the Senate set the size of the Roman legion each year during the Republic, based on the situation and available men. According to 21st-century Roman military historian and former National Guard officer Jonathan Roth, two ancient historians of Rome, Polybius (a Hellenistic Greek) and Livy (from the Augustan era), describe two sizes for Roman legions of the Republican period. One size is for the standard Republican legion and the other, a special one for emergencies. The size of the standard legion was 4000 infantry and 200 cavalry. The size of the emergency legion was 5000 and 300. The historians admit of exceptions with legion size going as low as 3000 and as high as 6000, with cavalry ranging from 200-400. The tribunes in Rome, after administering the oath, fix for each legion a day and place at which the men are to present themselves without arms and then dismiss them. When they come to the rendezvous, they choose the youngest and poorest to form the velites; the next to them are made hastati; those in the prime of life principes; and the oldest of all triarii, these being the names among the Romans of the four classes in each legion distinct in age and equipment. They divide them so that the senior men known as triarii number six hundred, the principes twelve hundred, the hastati twelve hundred, the rest, consisting of the youngest, being velites. If the legion consists of more than four thousand men, they divide accordingly, except as regards the triarii, the number of whom is always the same.—Polybius VI.21 Imperial Period In the imperial legion, beginning with Augustus, the organization is thought to have been: 10 squads (contubernia - a tent group of generally 8 men) a century, each commanded by a centurion 80 men [note that the size of a century had diverged from its original, literal meaning of 100]6 centuries a cohort 480 men10 cohorts a legion 4800 men. Roth says the Historia Augusta, an unreliable historical source from the late 4th century A.D., may be right in its figure of 5000 for imperial legion size, which works if you add the 200 cavalry figure to the product above of 4800 men. There is some evidence that in the first century the size of the first cohort was doubled: The question of the size of the legion is complicated by the indications that, at some point subsequent to the Augustan reform, the organization of the legion was altered by the introduction of a doubled first cohort.... The principal evidence for this reform comes from Pseudo-Hyginus and Vegetius, but in addition there are inscriptions listing discharged soldiers by cohort, which indicate that about twice as many men were discharged from the first cohort than from the others. The archaeological evidence is ambiguous... at most legionary camps the pattern of barracks suggests that the first cohort was of the same size as the other nine cohorts.—Roth * M. Alexander Speidel (Roman Army Pay Scales, by M. Alexander Speidel; The Journal of Roman Studies Vol. 82, (1992), pp. 87-106.) says the term turma was only used for the auxiliaries: Clua was a member of a squadron (turma) - a subdivision known only in the auxilia—led by a certain Albius Pudens. Although Clua named his unit simply by the colloquial expression equites Raetorum, we can be certain a cohors Raetorum equitata was meant, perhaps cohors VII Raetorum equitata, which is attested at Vindonissa during the mid-first century. The Imperial Army Beyond the Legions Complicating questions of the size of the Roman legion were the inclusion of men other than the fighters in the numbers given for the centuries. There were large numbers of slaves and civilian non-combatants (lixae), some armed, others not. Another complication is the likelihood of a double-sized first cohort beginning during the Principate. In addition to the legionaries, there were also auxiliaries who were mainly non-citizens, and a navy. Sources Roman Population, Territory, Tribe, City, and Army Size from the Republics Founding to the Veientane War, 509 B.C.-400 B.C., by Lorne H. Ward;  The American Journal of Philology, Vol. 111, No. 1 (Spring, 1990), pp. 5-39A History of Rome, by M. Cary and H.H. Scullard; New York, 1975.The Size and Organization  of the Roman Imperial Legion, by Jonathan Roth;  Historia: Zeitschrift fà ¼r Alte Geschichte,  Vol. 43, No. 3 (3rd Qtr., 1994), pp. 346-362How Rome Fell, by Adrian Goldsworthy; Yale University Press, 2009.