Cryptology Advancing National Security Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Cryptology Advancing National Security - Essay Example This essay discusses that there are also problems of implementation as some encryption programs do not ensure that the plaintext data they acquire is destroyed once it has been encrypted. These are acquired when systems use temporary files to protect in instances of data loss when the system crashes and to increase the available memory. The measures taken leave plaintext exposed and accessible on the hard drive and can easily be manipulated. In other cases, the operating system in computers leaves keys on the hard drive in the form of passwords that are easily broken by the user interface. Schneier states that â€Å"there are times when systems use master keys and also one-time session keys, where one is strong and the other is weak, the system is then broken by using partial information of the different keys†. It is clear that Cryptography plays a very integral role not only in securing sensitive government information. Cryptology is an important advancement in technology. In a day and age where people are very keen on computer programs and able to hack into national security databases, it is now more important. Seeing that there is a weakness in the cryptologic systems, data analysts and cryptologists must ensure that they write programs that are foolproof. In the same way that no one wants a thief having their bank details, we also do not want terrorists having sensitive national security information. Technology serves peoples purposes and it must then be used in the best way possible.

Anabel Family problems Essay Example for Free

Anabel Family problems Essay One year later. After implementing the ethnography students’ achievement plan, the students have developed well. Although not all were able to meet all the goals I set to them at the beginning of the school year, each one of them was able to excel this year. Since all of them have difficulties in reading, writing, spelling, and Mathematics, teaching was basically the same. However, for each one’s special needs, the approaches were different. Some of them were found to be very good in peer to peer tutoring while others were good in one on one tutoring. Aside from academic struggles, problems on behavior, anger and frustration management and lack of confidence were common among them. Dukes and co-authors (2007) argues that problem behavior is causes risk in the effective teaching and learning strategies and also with the safety and convenience of both the students and the teachers. Thus, while honing their academic skills, I also had to be concerned about each other’ behavior problem. Different strategies like joining what they would not want to do and what they want to do in one activity was found effective to encourage the child to do what he needed to do. Letting them feel that they were good in some skills encouraged them to learn even more. Although a lot of strategies regarding behavior problems exist, not all are found to be effective. Some teachers would prefer to do punishments with problem students but this would not frequently change the students’ behavior. Some researchers would suggest the functional behavior assessment (FBA) technique (Dukes et al, 2007). Functional behavior assessment (FBA) is â€Å"the process of identifying the events that reliably predict and maintain problem behaviors before an intervention is determined† (Scott, Nelson, Zabala, 2003). Such process requires a school-wide or perhaps district-wide training so that FBA will be properly implemented. Moreover, the parents were also counseled so that childrens’ learning could continue at home. A careful guidance of both parents and teachers was still found to be the most effective among all processes of handling a child with special needs. It may also be noted that teaching self management requires follow up procedures especially from the teacher. Some may expect that effective self management would require independence from the teachers and parents, children with disabilities need continuous follow up and monitoring (Sears, 2006). On a more personal note, the students were not just the only learners in the sessions. I also gathered more learning and insights for this school year. Although the students were not aware, the teacher was able to observe them personally. The students have taught me to have more patience, more kindness, and even the technical aspects of teaching special children. Indeed, special education must be put into a higher respect, love, and passion for teaching. More than a profession, teaching was more of motherhood to these children who have special needs that are needed to be given in a special way. Three among my five students were able to fulfill the goals of the course while the other two need more time. Anabel, Mark and Henry fulfilled most of the goals I set for them at the beginning of the school year while Jessica was not able to improve a lot. Lastly, Juan dropped out due to financial problems and problems about his health. The highest among the five is Mark who was able to achieve all the goals. His determination and parents’ support was present throughout the school year. If this would continue, he can excel to class even more in the next grade level. His parents were very thankful because he was able to make them proud whereas Mark was sure inspired by them. They would continue to support them and promised that they would always cooperate with the teacher for Mark’s continuous learning. Second was Anabel who almost achieved all the goals too. This lovely young girl had shown her potential and allowed the teacher to help her develop these. Her behavior was never been a problem towards the end of the school year. She was very willing to learn and wanted to learn even more. Also, her lack of self confidence improved. She was more interactive and participates more in and out of class. The least was Henry. This was duly because of his problem attitude. He refused to participate and failed to show willingness to learn. He was not able to improve a lot because he did not want to practice and follow my instructions to him. He was not able to behave well in class. Thus, I plan to handle with this problem behavior first before really forcing him to study, which is never convenient for him and for me. Jessica is still young. Like Henry, her behavior had hindered her development. Thus, she must undergo behavior management procedures. Also, her parents are also advised not to let her do what she wants to do just to make everything be fine. She needs to be treated in a way that she will learn how to follow authorities and when to do what she does not like to do. This lovely girl has the potential. She only needs to become more responsible so that she can focus more on her tasks. Her great sociable characteristics should be honed so that she will continue to learn more things to more people. Lastly, for Juan, he needs more constant medication with his doctor. I still talk to his parents so that Juan could continue to go to school because he sure has potential. Case Study I: Anabel Family problems often hindered Anabel to come to class. Since her family is not financially stable, some of her needs like school supplies and others stuffs needed to school were not duly given to her. Moreover, she was greatly affected by the fights of her parents and refused to come to class at times. Sometimes, while her mother was out to work, she was left to attend to her younger brother. Family problem is perhaps the greatest dilemma for the young mind of Anabel. It hinders her self development and only adds up to her hang ups. Thus, I advised her parents to undergo marriage counseling not only for their children but also for their family life as a whole.

Televisions Impact on Young Teens Essay -- Cause Effect Media Image E

Television's Impact on Young Teens   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  With the ever growing world of mass media becoming more accessible to our children, we must realize the effect television has on the youth of today. The views and images portrayed on television go right to the heart of American youth. Young men and women are being taught that being over weight or not being skinny enough means that you are unattractive and lazy. The ideal female body which television portrays as being normal has gone from the voluptuous figure of Marilyn Monroe and Mimi VanDoren to the skinny waist and bust-line of Pamela Anderson and Brittany Spears. It has become an obsessive, unattainable goal for our young teenage women. These teens find themselves in an endless battle to try and attain figures that are only made possible through cosmetic surgery and a profession that pays you to look a certain way. Many girls who find themselves unhappy with their appearance turn to starvation, which later turns to binge eating, then to self-induced vomiting(B attegay 54).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Eating disorders are far more common in the United States than in any other country. While some countries like Russia and Bosnia are struggling to find food, Americans are creating problems by consuming too much of it. Americanized countries or even any other industrialized countries with the direct influence of television are found to have considerably more problems with eating disorders. Carolyn Costin states in her book The Eating Disorder Source that western women seem to be at greater risk for developing disorders and the degree of Westernization seems to increase the risk. Costin then goes on to say that Evidence suggests that anorexia nervosa is uncommon outside the Western world and in less affluent Western countries. Furthermore, when immigrants move from less industrialized countries to more industrialized countries they are more likely to develop eating disorders. Costin is trying to say that you are at a greater risk of developing an eating order such as anorexia or bulimia in an Americanized culture because of the importance and constant reminders in forms of mass media that you should look thin, loose weight and keep the weight off. These are all things that are ongoing in our brains and degrade the self-image we behold of ourselves. Constin goes on to say: â€Å"Advertisements for taking off weight and keeping it off are fo... ... the product, but also causes insecurities of what we should look like holding the product. The consumers feed the fire of the sources flurry to put products in our faces.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Overall, media has increased its knowledge of its audience more rapidly than ever before. We are monitored by sources we would have never imagined and the problem is getting worse. With the new age of wireless internet and Cracker Jack baseball card sized phones, companies are tracking our every move. They know what we watch, who we call, where we go, and what we buy. They know what products to offer us and they know where to find more people like us so they too can be targeted.(Cantor p.32) The bottom line is that the media’s effect on us through television is much greater than we know. If they can convince us that our bodies are not slim enough, they can convince us that their products are worth buying. We need to rally for tighter standards from the Gatekeepers of television and the rest of mass media. The producers will only keep giving us more and as the audience becomes more and more desensitized we will only continue to want it until we become a warp ed society without values, morals or standards.

The Wrong Stuff

In the book, The Wrong Stuff, by Marcus Stern, Dean Calbreath, and Jerry Krammer, a sad story is told about a man that fell from grace as one of the truly great Americans and went on to become one of the most publicly lambasted figures of a generation. The book talks about the life, trials, and tribulations of Duke Cunningham, the American congressman that saw his star fall as far from the sky as one could possibly fall. In the book, the authors take an interesting viewpoint on the many different scenes that would eventually shape Cunningham’s life and they use an interesting style to get across these points.Ultimately, the authors combine to render an effective work that takes a comprehensive view of a man with an emphasis on proving that his life was one that was ultimately wasted. The main idea of the book is to not only give the reader a history of Duke Cunningham and his situation, but to shed a light on what might have caused the congressman to mess up something that cou ld have been so good. It does not take a short sighted view on the congressman, either.Instead of simply focusing on the bribery scandal that sent him to jail or the tax evasion that was a part of his life, it focuses on letting the reader know why these things happened and what might have motivated Cunningham to take such risks. The book talks at length about the fact that Duke Cunningham had it made as a congressman from the moment he entered office. He was able to gain his seat after the incumbent fell victim to a scandal of his own. In addition, he was able to use his past military service in the Vietnam War as a means of earning respect among both his peers and his constituents.The book ties all of these events together in a way that gives the reader a clear view of Cunningham’s entire life and political experience. One important point that the book tries to make numerous times is the fact that Cunningham gained his position of influence not only by circumstance, but als o because he was a relentless worker. On page twenty-four of the work, the authors write (2007), â€Å"But no one outworked Cunningham. Jim Laing, one his tactical flight instructors, once marveled at his willingness to study1† (p. 24).This was an important theme through the book that was represented by in many ways using tales of his Vietnam days. The book’s authors understood that people would be more moved by tales from the battle front, so they took advantage of those stories as much as possible. In one way, this is why the book succeeds in grabbing the reader. In the work, the authors find a lot of success in validating their primary points. They try hard to make the point that the congressman had everything out in front of him, yet he did not have the right stuff to make it happen in life.Luckily for the authors, Cunningham gives them many examples of both of these instances. Not only is he an excellent worker with many accomplishments leading up to his problems, but his political career crashes and burns in such a way that it would be nearly impossible for any author to miss the point in describing the event. Because this was one of the most publicized political corruption incidents of all time, it is very easy for the authors to make the reader understand its significance.The authors make mention of the publicity of the incident when they write (2007), â€Å"Cunningham could no longer walk the halls of congress without being dogged by television cameras and shouted questions†1 (p. 237). This is a clear indication that the event was taking its toll on the senator, and the authors waste little time mentioning this in their work in a way that readers can understand. I would certainly recommend this book to people close to me because it is a perfect recollection a fairly interesting incident.It succeeds in a lot of different ways because it uses real life examples to not only tell the story, but to paint a portrait of Cunningham as a m an. It would really allow my parents to see the congressman in a human sense, instead of simply as a politician with no soul. Of the weaknesses in the book that I would point out to those people, there includes the fact that it is slow moving at points. People that pick up this book to read it are looking to get insight on the scandals and political situations that the congressman was involved in.It spends a little bit too much time focusing on Cunningham’s life as a youngster, while it should be focusing on the main points. Still, these weaknesses are not all that evident to the casual reader, because it is not a slow enough book that will make readers want to put the book down. References Calbreath, D, & Condon, G. E. , & Krammer, J. , & Stern, M. (2007). The Wrong Stuff: The Extraordinary Saga of Randy â€Å"Duke† Cunningham, the Most Corrupt Congressman Ever Caught. PublicAffairs Publishing.

Macro Business Environment Essay

There are many different environments in marketing which will influence how successful a product will be. With a well rounded marketing plan, and taking into account the many different aspects of the environment any product can have a chance at success. The air blade fits extremely well into the macro business analysis. Aspects such as trends technology, economic, natural area, cultural will domestic will be discussed . Every area in the macro business environment is important. In this day and age technology plays a big role in this role. In terms of B2B it is essential. The air blade is new and one of a kind. There are no other products in the market quite like it and for that reason it has a big technological impact. It is more efficient more hygienic than any hand dryer on the market. For this reason the air blade is at the top of the food chain in terms of technology and has a great chance of completely taking over the market. The air blade†Making everyday products better† and in this particular area Dyson aims to be at the top. Probably its greatest advantage over any other product is its technology. The fact that the air blade is more efficient and cleaner than any other product proves that it has an edge over any other competitor. Since the air blade is such a high competitor all other companies in this market are going to have to change how they make their product so that the air blade doesn’t become a complete monopoly and put everyone out of business. There are a few uncertainties is this day and age. There are updated products coming out every day and the key is to make one so well that no one else will make an attempt. The Dyson is so new and well made its almost ahead of its time. There are no products like it and for that reason, it is certain that the air blade will be a success. In this particular area there are few trends going on. People have been using hand towels for so many years and no new trend have developed. We are now looking to develop a new trend. The demand for an efficient and cost effective product is at hand. Using high labor and cutting down trees to dry off hands is no longer an option. There are more people coming into the world every day a solution is needed to keep up with the demand . A new efficient and low maintenance product will set the new trend for a lifetime. Scenario planning for the technological aspect will is that there are advances being made every day. The whole fact that the air blade is so new even, if a better product come out which is highly unlikely the market is so small that it will likely not be affected too much. On the other hand, if nothing new id developed then the air blade will take over. For an environmental standpoint and looking at the natural and physical aspects of Dyson the air blade is a great product. Using renewable energy and learning to work more efficiently is now a new priority. The air blade is so advanced that its motor dries hands quickly and efficiently without heating, saving energy and resources. A high powered stream that is unheated saves 80% compared to not heating the air saves. Since the air blade uses a high-powered stream it saves us from having to cut down trees. Cutting down trees takes time and effort. As well as delivery and balancing the budget. It is a waste of time to use this solution any longer. Saving trees will also be better for the environment. In the future energy conservation we be one of the top issues. Products that are eco friendly will be applauded. The air blade is a new environmentally friendly solution which will make it so attractive to buy. The scenario for the air blade is that if energy continues to be cheap and available. The air blade may not take off as expected. But if energy becomes scarce then saving energy will become more important and be seen as serous issue. Energy conservation has around a 70% chance of being the major issue, while plentiful energy has only a 30% chance. These numbers are an estimate based on news reports and scientific studies. As a result this shows that energy conservation is becoming more urgent. In terms of a demographic scenario the air blade will take off and become extremely popular as the worlds population grows demanding new and more efficient solutions to  everyday life. The air blade will become a necessity for its convenient and cost effective as well as energy saving qualities. However if the world does not continue to grow then there is a chance that this aspect will not help in terms of making the air blade that much more of a necessity.

Becoming Certified essays

Becoming Certified essays CompTIA is the global leader in the information technology trade, with influence in all areas of IT standards. CompTIA is dedicated to the development and growth of IT professionals by promoting industry standards. CompTIA is also devoted to helping students gain professional IT knowledge, by providing IT skills, education and developing related business solutions. CompTIA has developed specialized initiatives and programs dedicated to major areas within this industry. Certification is the computing industrys method for developing competency standards and identifying the men and women who have mastered those standards as professionals. They include convergence technology, e-commerce, IT training, software services, certification exams, public policy and workforce development. CompTIA Linux+ certification is a new standard for those that have 6 or more months experience installing, configuring, administrating UNIX based operating systems. With a Linux+ certification it is not uncommon to demonstrate knowledge of installation, operation, administration and troubleshooting services. A growing demand for UNIX support professionals is at an all time high. Holding a Linux+ certification will open many doors to a successful career. CompTIA i-Net+ has official recognition as the standard for competency in knowledge of Internet, Intranet, and Extranet technologies around the world. This exam is recognized as a starting point for technical knowledge specially designed to certify entry-level Internet and e-commerce technical professionals. Those who possess an i-Net+ certification can build a solid career in e-commerce, web development, networking, and Internet security. CompTIA A+ exam consists of two exams, the A+ Core Hardware exam and the A+ OS Technologies exam. You must have basic knowledge of installing, configuring, upgrading, troubleshooting, and repairing desktop computers before you take the test. An A+ certi...

Free Essays on E-payments

E-Payments The Internet has taken its place beside the telephone and television as an important part of people's lives. Consumers use the Internet to shop, bank and invest online. Most consumers and businesses still use credit or debit cards to pay for online purchases making this the main way for people to pay over the Internet. Even with this fact, technologies such as e-wallets and digital certificates are making big strides into the arena of E-commerce. And how would you like to pay? Most online shoppers use credit cards to pay for their online purchases. But debit cards - which authorize merchants to debit your bank account electronically - are increasing in use. Your debit card may be an automated teller machine (ATM) card that can be used for retail purchases. To complete a debit card transaction, you may have to use a personal identification number (PIN), some form of a signature or other identification, or a combination of these identifiers. Some cards have both credit and debit features: You select the payment option at the point-of-sale. But remember, although a debit card may look like a credit card, the money for debit purchases is transferred almost immediately from your bank account to the merchant's account. In addition, your liability limits for a lost or stolen debit card and unauthorized use are different from your liability if your credit card is lost, stolen or used without your authorization This can create a hassle for both you and your custom ers. In tge business world, that can be very damageing. E-payments can be a the answer that you are looking for. New electronic payment systems, sometimes referred to as "electronic money" or "e-money", are beginning to evolve. Their goal is to make purchasing simpler for both the customer and the business. For example, "stored-value" cards let you transfer cash value to a card. They're commonly used on public transportation, at colleges and universities and at gas s... Free Essays on E-payments Free Essays on E-payments E-Payments The Internet has taken its place beside the telephone and television as an important part of people's lives. Consumers use the Internet to shop, bank and invest online. Most consumers and businesses still use credit or debit cards to pay for online purchases making this the main way for people to pay over the Internet. Even with this fact, technologies such as e-wallets and digital certificates are making big strides into the arena of E-commerce. And how would you like to pay? Most online shoppers use credit cards to pay for their online purchases. But debit cards - which authorize merchants to debit your bank account electronically - are increasing in use. Your debit card may be an automated teller machine (ATM) card that can be used for retail purchases. To complete a debit card transaction, you may have to use a personal identification number (PIN), some form of a signature or other identification, or a combination of these identifiers. Some cards have both credit and debit features: You select the payment option at the point-of-sale. But remember, although a debit card may look like a credit card, the money for debit purchases is transferred almost immediately from your bank account to the merchant's account. In addition, your liability limits for a lost or stolen debit card and unauthorized use are different from your liability if your credit card is lost, stolen or used without your authorization This can create a hassle for both you and your custom ers. In tge business world, that can be very damageing. E-payments can be a the answer that you are looking for. New electronic payment systems, sometimes referred to as "electronic money" or "e-money", are beginning to evolve. Their goal is to make purchasing simpler for both the customer and the business. For example, "stored-value" cards let you transfer cash value to a card. They're commonly used on public transportation, at colleges and universities and at gas s...

Au Cas Où - French Expression Explained

Au Cas Oà ¹ - French Expression Explained The French expression Au cas oà ¹ (pronounced [o ka oo], note that there is no liaison between cas and oà ¹) literally translates  to in the case where Explanation and Examples The French expression au cas oà ¹ is exactly equivalent to (just) in case in English. You can use it in front of a subject plus verb in the conditional, in which case its register is normal to formal. The more interesting - and informal - usage is when its tacked on to the end of a sentence. If you dont already use au cas oà ¹ regularly, you soon will.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Au cas oà ¹ il rentrerait avant nous, je vais lui laisser un mot.  Ã‚  Ã‚  (Just) in case he gets home before us, Im going to leave him a note.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Apporte un parapluie, au cas oà ¹ il pleuvrait.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Bring an umbrella, (just) in case it rains.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Apporte un blouson, au cas oà ¹.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Bring a jacket, just in case. Synonymous Expressions For au cas oà ¹ conditional: dans le cas oà ¹des fois quepour le cas oà ¹ For the informal au cas oà ¹ at the end of a sentence: tout hasardpour le cas oà ¹

A real case risk management analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

A real case risk management analysis - Essay Example perience in the provision of helicopter services in over 30 countries, on all seven continents and in most of the major offshore oil and gas producing regions of the world. (Company Annual Report, 2007). Its major operating units include the United Kingdom, Norway, Netherlands, South Africa, Australia and Canada. The company’s European and Global Operations segments enable it to provide helicopter transportation services to the oil and gas industry for production and exploration activities. (Company Annual Report, 2007). In addition, the company also provides helicopter transportation services for emergency medical services (â€Å"EMS†) and search and rescue (â€Å"SAR†) activities, as well as ancillary services such as flight training. Its Heli-One segment, one of the world’s largest non-original equipment manufacturer support company provides repair and overhaul (â€Å"R&O†) services, aircraft leasing, integrated logistics support, helicopter part s sales and distribution, as well as other related services to its flight operations and third-party clients around the world. (Company Annual Report, 2007). The company’s operations depend largely upon the level of activity in the oil and gas industry. The activities are therefore affected to varying degrees by trends in oil and gas prices. Traditional wisdom detects that oil and gas prices have been very unstable in the past and continue to depend to wide fluctuations to changes in the supply and demand for oil and gas, market uncertainty and a variety of additional factors beyond the company’s control. (Company’s Annual Report, 2007). It is difficult for the company to predict the movement of future oil and gas prices. Prolonged declines in oil and gas prices could adversely affect Helicopter’s activity in support of exploration and to a lesser extent, production activity and, therefore, have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition and results of operations. (Company’s Annual Report,

Establishing Money Exchange and Transfer Business Research Proposal

Establishing Money Exchange and Transfer Business - Research Proposal Example UAE has an extensive record of the money changers who are involved in exchange of foreign currencies and remittance. The process of remittances took place in the form of a third party money payment system, where the person may pass on the currency to the second party located within or outside the country. This service was utilized heavily by the emigrants in UAE. In the other countries money changers are prohibited, while in UAE and the other Gulf countries they are regulated, licensed, and supervised by the central bank. The money exchange and transfer industry in UAE comprises of more than 212 offices. These money changers utilize the banks, exchange houses, and even agents to take and receive remittances. Â  This system might appear to be informal, but they are formal contractual agreements, and their business is legal and well-established in UAE. The currency of UAE is Dirhams which is linked to the US Dollar. However, Dirham has remained constant more than a period of 20 years (Campbell, 2007, p. 354). Even the foreign exchange market in UAE is not centrally controlled by specific exchange. It is mainly run by the bank through ‘over-the counter’ and by the companies who trade in currencies. The currency brokers are there in the market to offer good deal in foreign exchange because the exchange rate is not the same. There are different prices on which currency is traded depending on the rates offered by the banks or companies into trading and fund transferring business.

Sarajevo Graduate School of Business Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Sarajevo Graduate School of Business - Case Study Example After its inception, the school gained a good reputation across Eastern Europe whereby it attracted many young managers across Bosnia and had a diverse population of young students from six different nations (Sarajevo graduate business school Web). The country of Bosnia, similar to Herzegovina had been in a regional war for a long time, which devastated the country, as well as its capital city Sarajevo. The country of Yugoslavia was largely a communist nation, which followed and supported the ideologies of the USSR. However, not all parts of Yugoslavia supported these ideologies. This led to the conflict of interest since other people supported the capitalist ideologies while the others were a neutral ground. Yugoslavia was highly unified under the central control of Tito until the year 1992 when countries such as Serbia gained independence from Moscow. This led to a war with an objective of all countries involves gaining the same independence from Yugoslavia. Later on, after 10 year s, Bosnia gained its independence from Yugoslavia and continued to support the capitalist ideologies (Sarajevo graduate business school Web). It was the countries quest for capitalist ideologies, which attracted investors into that country. ... This was done under a four-year contract whereby the USAID was to develop and implement a sustainable MBA program (Sarajevo graduate business school Web). John Stocker joined the Sarajevo Graduate Business School of business in 2005 as a chief party where he also represented FLAG, a project management and investment firm in which he was a principal. Stocker, being a finance PhD holder had vast experience as lecturer where he had taught as a professor in the United States, Bulgaria, and Afghanistan. By the year 2007, the Sarajevo graduate school of business had taught and graduated three groups totaling to 100 students from its two-year MBA program. These graduates were all employed immediately since the school provided both the operational knowledge and the opportunity to come up with a network of professional contacts. However, in the year 2007, things began to change in the objectives of the University Of Delaware. The University of Delaware did not place significant value on the s trategic link of both universities. In addition, the low-income levels in Bosnia prevented University of Delaware from charging U.S.-level tuition fee for the program, which led to the expensive salary for lecturers from the US. This led to the withdrawal of the USAID support from the business school. Consequently, the Sarajevo graduate business school withdrew the provision of its MBA degree program under the schools banner. However, there were two possibilities which john stocker developed to the program. one of the alternative was to develop a new U.S. partner institute to offer a program comparable to the University of Delaware platform while the other was to develop

Research Proposal Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Research Proposal Example In the wake of these corporate failures, basic principles and rules are being reviewed and strengthened in order to reinstall investor confidence. At the heart of these corporate governance reforms is the common interest in the effectiveness of boards of directors. Corporate governance codes, experts and activists have long advocated changes in the board structure. As a result of the successful implementation of corporate practice codes in the private sector corporations, the government has decided to implement the system in public/civil departments and government offices. The public offices are supposed to benefit the people who pay tax to the government on various assets and income earned by them. The government departments should exhibit transparency, and accountability to the various stakeholders including general public. These departments have a key role in a society where people's money is handled by government departments when they left with excess income allowed by tax author ity. In this context, the present study s an attempt to examine the impact of corporate government practices implemented by revenue commission in the UK on the customers'/ tax payers' satisfaction. Corporate governance is a conscious and sustained effort on the part of a corporate entity to strike a judicious balance between its own interest and that of its stakeholders. It is the relationship among various participants in determining the direction and performance of corporations. It is not merely enacting legislation; but instilling an environment of trust and confidence as ethical business behavior and fairness cannot be legislated. It aims at minimizing the chances of corruption, malpractices, financial frauds, and misconduct of management. It provides various codes and regulations to establish effective governance system and to monitor the performance of corporations in the context of transparency, advocacy, accountability and social contribution to the society. Governance is not just a pious platitude. It is the accumulated outcome of inspiration, influence, wisdom, guidance and control, which keeps a body or an organization not only moving but also moving on the right tr ack and at the right speed. It is inherent in the very nature of cosmic as well as human systems. However, corporate governance is essentially a state of mind and a set of principles based on relationships. It can work only if the people entrusted with these responsibilities believe in and are committed to the principles that underline effective corporate governance, which in ultimate analysis, is a way of life and not a mere compliance with a set of rules. Ideals of corporate governance primarily need transparency, full disclosure, fairness to all stakeholders and effective monitoring of the state of corporate affairs. It is, thus, concerned with values, vision, and visibility. Sound corporate governance practices lead to greater management accountability, credibility, and enhanced public confidence. Statement of the Problem With the corporate scandals in the early 2000, corporations across the world are under pressure to convince and ensure that the various stakeholders are happy with the system of corporate governance. Many new standards/policies of Corporate Governance (CG) and changes in accounting and reporting

VoIP Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

VoIP - Essay Example â€Å"IP telephony, Internet telephony, Voice over Broadband (VoBB), broadband telephony, and broadband phone are few other terms that can be used as an alternative of VoIP† (Davidson, 2007). Communication services such as SMS, voice messaging, facsimile etc. are the few examples of VoIP that uses the internet as a mode of transmission instead of PSTN (public switched telephone network) nowadays. According to an analysis made by analysts in the past few years, it has come into limelight that a proportion of 20 % of businesses in U.S. have brought VoIP into practice and this fraction is likely to accelerate in the upcoming years (Wallingford, 2005). In this modern era of breakthroughs, where VoIP has experienced a boom in the field of commerce, one of its prime examples includes ANSR, Inc. A small company, located in Midwestern U.S. that initiated its business as e-Marketing and real estate across the country with a wide spread employment network. Due to fast-moving business, s oon it necessitated system, which could address to its increasing communication requirements for its strewn workforce. However, ANSR also needed complete packaged phone related software that could integrate the two diverse branches of its business working in correlation at one place.

Research Proposal Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Research Proposal Example In the wake of these corporate failures, basic principles and rules are being reviewed and strengthened in order to reinstall investor confidence. At the heart of these corporate governance reforms is the common interest in the effectiveness of boards of directors. Corporate governance codes, experts and activists have long advocated changes in the board structure. As a result of the successful implementation of corporate practice codes in the private sector corporations, the government has decided to implement the system in public/civil departments and government offices. The public offices are supposed to benefit the people who pay tax to the government on various assets and income earned by them. The government departments should exhibit transparency, and accountability to the various stakeholders including general public. These departments have a key role in a society where people's money is handled by government departments when they left with excess income allowed by tax author ity. In this context, the present study s an attempt to examine the impact of corporate government practices implemented by revenue commission in the UK on the customers'/ tax payers' satisfaction. Corporate governance is a conscious and sustained effort on the part of a corporate entity to strike a judicious balance between its own interest and that of its stakeholders. It is the relationship among various participants in determining the direction and performance of corporations. It is not merely enacting legislation; but instilling an environment of trust and confidence as ethical business behavior and fairness cannot be legislated. It aims at minimizing the chances of corruption, malpractices, financial frauds, and misconduct of management. It provides various codes and regulations to establish effective governance system and to monitor the performance of corporations in the context of transparency, advocacy, accountability and social contribution to the society. Governance is not just a pious platitude. It is the accumulated outcome of inspiration, influence, wisdom, guidance and control, which keeps a body or an organization not only moving but also moving on the right tr ack and at the right speed. It is inherent in the very nature of cosmic as well as human systems. However, corporate governance is essentially a state of mind and a set of principles based on relationships. It can work only if the people entrusted with these responsibilities believe in and are committed to the principles that underline effective corporate governance, which in ultimate analysis, is a way of life and not a mere compliance with a set of rules. Ideals of corporate governance primarily need transparency, full disclosure, fairness to all stakeholders and effective monitoring of the state of corporate affairs. It is, thus, concerned with values, vision, and visibility. Sound corporate governance practices lead to greater management accountability, credibility, and enhanced public confidence. Statement of the Problem With the corporate scandals in the early 2000, corporations across the world are under pressure to convince and ensure that the various stakeholders are happy with the system of corporate governance. Many new standards/policies of Corporate Governance (CG) and changes in accounting and reporting

Conflict Resolution Paper Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Conflict Resolution Paper - Coursework Example The message had not been replied after half an hour. I decided to write her another text message; this time round it was worse because it included abuses. Still she did not reply. After 2 hours, my anger had cooled down; I decided to call my roommate’s boyfriend to inform me why his girlfriend was not answering my message. I was shocked to learn from the boyfriend that my roommate had gone unconscious before they left the room and rushed her to a medical facility. I suddenly remembered that my roommate was epileptic. The boyfriend confessed of the mess in the room, he confessed that he was trying to look for her medical records and because of the hurry, he ended up disarranging everything. I felt so ashamed to learn that I had to confess to both my roommate and her boyfriend afterwards. If I had to find myself in the same situation in future, I would first of all wait for her to return, ask her why it happened before reacting (Van de Vliert and Euwema 679). I will never let my emotions dominate me next time I find myself in

George Orwells The Lion and the Unicorn Essay Example for Free

George Orwells The Lion and the Unicorn Essay George Orwell, the author of The Lion and the Unicorn: Socialism and the English Genius, wrote this essay during the British leadership crisis in the beginnings of World War II. Wanting to unify the English, he reminds them of their past and how it makes them stand out as a nation. While writing to the elite intellectuals, he also worked to unify the middle and working classes. He writes to the English people to relate to them through maintaining their tradition, culture, and faith in the government by using culture and customs that both are familiar to and will unite the country. In this way, he reminds the people that although they may be different they all live in the same country. Though Orwell strongly was against some of the things his country did, he believed he always had a duty to her. Many people thought he was anti-war and military, but, in fact, he said he would always fight for his country no matter what the battle. He even tried reenlisting on September 9th, 1939 (Rossi, p128). To fully understand the content, knowledge of Orwells personal history, Britains history, customs and culture are necessities. At this time, Britain was about to go into war. Germany and Italy had led their countries by dictators and totalitarianism. Orwell hated totalitarianism because it supported the intellectuals and upper class. He also did not see much of a difference between fascism and capitalism. He believed that both gave too much power to too few and that would corrupt the English. Orwells goal was not only to educate and bring together Britains people, but almost threaten the intellectuals. He tries to show England that they are unique in comparison to other countries because they do not need communism, capitalism, or fascism. About England he says, the beer is bitterer, the coins are heavier, the grass is greener†¦ mild knobby faces, their bad teeth, and gentle manners, are different from a European crowd (Orwell p57). In this quotation, Orwell explains to his fellow countrymen what makes them English and why they should be proud. He wanted to join them nationally into socialism because the people are in the fields and the streets, in the factories and the armed forces, in the four ale bar and suburban back garden (Orwell p 59). He told the Partisan Review in January 1941 that the bulk of the middle class are just as anti-Hitler as the working class, and their morale is probably more reliable (Rossi p128). He wanted to make the point  that the middle class was essential in the changing England. Historians use The Lion and the Unicorn as a great source to show what a cross road England was at before the war. It is also a source as to the beginnings of socialism in mid-twentieth century Britain. England had so many different directions to go and not many intellectuals agreed on just one. Orwell was often compared to two other socialists, William Morris and H.G. Wells. Orwell often had conflicts with H.G. Wells who wrote such novels as War of the Worlds and The Invisible Man. Wells was also considered a socialist claiming democracy to be inefficient. Wells believes that putting power in the hands of the ignorant lower class would be a disaster. He also thought nationalism was unrealistic because no country could be independently powerful. Their biggest difference was Orwell believed that man would evolve better by law whereas Wells believed he would improve by science and technology (Partington p50). Orwell and William Morris show more similarities to each other. Morris, a poet and artist, is one of the fathers of socialism in England and lived in the nineteenth century. He is best known for his works The Wood Beyond the World and The Well at the Worlds End. Many historians believe his ideas are parallel to Orwells because they both write romantically about their country and the liberty and justice of it (Vaninskaya p19). Orwells main purpose in writing The Lion and the Unicorn is to convince the people the importance of a social revolution. Orwells work is used in reference to the history of socialism, patriotism, and nationalism. Today parts of socialism, capitalism, communism, and fascism are all still thriving. Even though socialism doesnt run Britain, it did bring about a lot of changes. Because of it Britain has public healthcare, housing for the poor and affordable universities for the working class. Many people feel that Orwells arguments were empty and accomplished nothing, but they cannot deny the results of socialist democratic influence. He believed the only way to accomplish this was an England united by a deep sense of patriotism. Bibliography: Orwell, George. The Lion and the Unicorn; Socialism and the English Genius London 1941Partington, S. John. The Pen as Sword: George  Orwell, H.G. Wells and Journalistic Parricide Journal of Contemporary January 01, 2004, Vol. 39 Number 1 p45-56, 12pRossi, John P. George Orwells Concept of Patriotism. Spring 2001, Vol. 43 Issue 2, p128, 5pVaninskaya, Anna. The bugle of justice: the romantic socialism of William Morris and George Orwell. Contemporary Justice Review, March 2005, Vol. 8 Number 1 p7-23, 17p

Finance Essays Financial Management

Finance Essays Financial Management Role of financial management in Wolfson Microelectronics plc. TASK 1: Financial management is related to the acquisition, financing and management of assets with a future goal and planning. Efficient financial management requires the laying down an objective or goal, because judgement whether a financial decision has been rightly taken or not must be in light of some standard. The most important goal of a firm in financial context is to maximize the value (wealth) of firm and of the shares holders’ wealth. Maximizing the wealth of share holders (owners) of the firm is judged by the effect of share price which is the result of business decisions. Thus we define role of financial management into three areas: Investments: Investment decisions for an investor are based on historical prices and security analysis of financial assets such as stocks and bonds. However from company’s point of view investment is all about finding out new feasible ways to manage the business mainly in area of production, distribution and marketing. Further more, company also considers which portfolio of the different types of financial assets to hold. A common example could be common stocks, preferred stocks, bonds and debentures etc. With regard of Wolfson Microelectronics, it made investments in Research and Development of capital equipment and soft wares to $10.6 m alone in 2004. Furthermore, company has intentions to significant contributions to research in the future. As a result value of fixed assets rose to $ 29,680k in the year 2004. Wolfson unveiled two main ideas behind putting capital expenditure (long-term investments):   to time the market requirement decrease production cost by constant research and design Wolfson clearly showed its intention not to distribute retained earnings among its shareholders due to the need of capital expenditure in future projects. The future electronics market belongs to consumer’s digital portable stuff. Wolfson’s management is planning to contribute in this huge market share around the world, making it sure they keep alive with the high demanding consumer market in the future, though they are newly born public listed company in the London Stock exchange. 1. Refer: Balance sheet figures (Pg. 53) of Wolfson Microelectronics plc. Annual  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Report and Accounts 2004 2) Financing: This is the second major issue of the firm as the management needs to ascertain How much money could be available by floating stocks in the market? Based on both factors, a company forms its capital structure. This is also referenced as ‘finance mix’. How much money they could borrow to run their business with getting in trouble of getting default or excess borrowings. Wolfson raised investment money to meet their requirements by issuing stocks (an increase of $ 9105 k) and increasing debt by $ 8273 k. In other words, it financed its projects by issuing stocks and bonds to its stakeholders. Wolfson plc. also mentioned financing of $1204 K as negative-inflow stream as compare to   $39,364 K   in year 2003 in the form of share capital issues and bank term loan. (3.) 3) Dividend policy:   In addition to two important decisions, dividend policy must be viewed as an integral part of the firm’s financing decision. The dividend payout ratio determines the amount of earnings that can be retained in the firm. Dividend payout ratio = Annual Cash dividends Annual earnings Wolfson paid equity dividends of $ 407 K in year 2003 but no dividends were paid in year 2004, but on non-dividend equity, company did not pay dividends to its shareholders. So the dividend payout ratio is Zero for year 2004. As described earlier, it has been clearly mentioned in the annual report to retain all future earnings for investment in development and expansion of business and the management does not expect to pay dividend at least for some years in future. (2.)   However, this is not an encouraging sign for shareholders of Wolfson because stock investors often judge performance of the company stocks by their growth which is possible by declaration of dividends. 2.Refer consolidated cash flow statement (Pg.54) of Wolfson Microelectronics plc. Annual Report and Accounts 2004 3. Notes to Cash flow statement (Pg. 72) of Wolfson Microelectronics plc. Annual Report and Accounts 2004 If we combine the effects of the financing, investment with dividend policy, the relation could be in a shape of three schools of thought: Some argue that Dividend policy is irrelevant because for a company investment and debt decisions are not relevant by the amount of dividend payments. This is also due to the fact when we say that capital markets are perfect and complete and all information is available regarding market conditions and its constituents (companies). Some say that High dividends increase Stock value. They provide the reason that dividends are more certain than capital gains (price growth of the securities), so a firm which is paying less returns but sticks with the dividends is more attractive for the share holders.   Thirdly, low dividends increase stock value because some argue that dividends actually hurt the investors in shape of taxes, so less dividend income means less tax deduction for the shareholder. TASK 2: Is Wolfson successful to satisfy needs of Shareholders? Certainly not according to the annual report 2004. As we discuss earlier, stock investors are not impressed at all knowing the fact company is not paying dividends, but one has to consider that Wolfson is a new public listed company in London Stock Exchange which has a great impact of its group directors holdings. If we look at the current price trend of Wolfson Micro Electronics plc. (source: uk.finance.yahoo.com), we find that there is good improvement in market price as it is trading above 200p per share from Sept, 2005 to date. The volume of the stock traders is also increased from July onwards, although in odd days there are sudden fall in price and volume which is bit worrying for shareholders. Chart 2.1 But the good aspect is Wolfson stock is performing above average as compare to FTSE index. If we see the chart 2.2, creating good price increase from beginning of this year. Chart 2.2 Let’s talk about the expectation of shareholder and growth rate of stock price in absence of dividends (as in the case of Wolfson). As shown in chart 2.3, if there is a decline in dividends, as a result the expectation level will also be decreasing and so as the price of the stock. A rise in the dividend growth then put the expectation of the investors at increasing level as well as the growth in stock price occur. Chart 2.3 Would it be better if Remuneration package for a Director is based on Shareholders wealth? The concept of shareholder’s wealth arises from the theory that a company should only work solely for the benefit of these people and has responsibilities to its owners. That could be an effective style in management and it sounds very good for the investors. Following points should be observed in this regard: If company is giving dividends to its share holders from the reserves allocated in the company retained earnings then there is a secure feeling for stockholders that they will not lose all of their money if company goes bankrupt. Management if decides to use dividends for increasing future value of the firm by utilizing them in capital expenditures, then this also makes sense for a firm like Wolfson that is involved in digital technology. We know that innovations and inventions are constantly taking place in this industry which means high proportion of firm’s money is spent on RD of new products. We have to bear in mind that distribution of dividends also require transaction cost for a firm to pay in the shareholders account plus dividend   income is taxable for shareholders. Knowing these facts, if were a Director of Wolfson I would not decide in company’s meetings not to distribute dividends to our shareholders at all for number of years. Rather than I would continue to give shareholders at least some amount of returns in form of dividends. Why I should go for the decision, this is because of following reasons Directors and top management are bound by fiduciary duties to act in the good interest of shareholders. Value of my firm will increase if shareholders have more trust in our performance. If we allocate a portion of profit towards them that means that as Directors of Wolfson, we give respect to our shareholders even in tough period of our business cycle (we know our company is new to the stock market but has opportunities to capture its share in the market). Moreover, total shareholder return of Wolfson would be lower than its competitors in the market because when stock investor compares the performance of different companies for his investment, it would be inevitable that share price appreciation and dividends paid are not in a row in our company. The reference group of companies (having similar business) in same sector would also pose threat for us when a shareholder takes investment decision.

The Debate Over Euthanasia Essay -- Euthanasia Death Argumentative Ess

The Debate Over Euthanasia The controversy over euthanasia has recently become highly publicized. However, this issue is not a new debate. Society has voiced its opinions on the subject for hundreds of years. Euthanasia, which is Greek for "good death", refers to the act of ending another person’s life in order to end their suffering and pain.1 Two forms, passive and active euthanasia, categorize the actions taken to end the person’s life. Passive euthanasia involves removing a patient’s life support, withholding food and water, and discontinuing medical treatments. Active euthanasia includes any direct action taken to cause the death of the person, such as administrating a lethal drug.2 The debate over this issue stems from moral, ethical, and religious beliefs. All of these standpoints either side with the patient dying a natural death or from an accelerated death by euthanasia. History Throughout history, euthanasia has been used as a way to relieve a patient from an incurable illness or from living a life of unbearable pain. Many cultures, such as the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations, did not oppose one’s decision to end his life rather than living with agonizing pain.3 During this time period, this choice was commonplace. A few ancient philosophers, who believed that the ending of a human life belonged to the gods only, met it with objection. When the Christian era began, the subject was rarely discussed or practiced because of the strong trust and faith held in God and his divine command. It was not until the eighteenth century Enlightenment period that new ideas favoring euthanasia were put forth by philosophers and other prominent figures such as Samuel Williams and David Hume.4 By the close of the 1800’s... .... - "Euthanasia: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions," International Anti-Euthanasia Task Force, 2 March 1999, http://iaetf.org/index.htm (8 March 1999). - Euthanasia and Physician Assisted Suicide: All Sides of the Issues, 3 March 1999, http://www.religioustolerance.org/euthanas.htm(4 March 1999). - Green, James T. The Effects of Chemotherapy, 22 January 1999, http://www.databaun.com/jamez/writing/chemo.html(2 March 1999). - "Interview With Timothy Quill M.D.," Frontline/WGBH Educational Foundation, 1998, http://www2.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/kevorkian/medicine/quill2.html(4 March 1999). - Larue, Gerald, Th.D. Playing God: Fifty Religions Views on Your Right to Die Wakefield, NJ: Moyer Bell, 1996. - Manning, Michael M.D. Euthanasia and Physician Assisted Suicide. Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1998.

Alvin Ailey

Gerald L. Archard November 22, 2010 2nd block dance 2 Dance Pioneers, Companies, and Choreographers Alvin Ailey Alvin Ailey, Jr. was an African American modern dancer, dance teacher and choreographer, who founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Ailey was a gifted creator of dance expressing the African American cultural experience and history. His choreographic works live on in performances by the company he founded. The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater toured extensively and regularly in Europe and Asia during Ailey's lifetime, making Ailey a familiar name worldwide.His works continue to inspire, uplift, educate, and communicate brilliance to all who witness them. One of his best known works, the choreographic masterpiece, Revelations, based on Ailey's experience growing up as an African American in the South, consistently brings audiences to their feet in enthusiastic, spontaneous ovation. Ailey was born to his 17-year-old mother, Lula Cooper, in Rogers, Texas. His father abandoned the family when Alvin was only a few months old. Ailey's mother was determined to make a better life for herself and child. She moved numerous times in Ailey's early years.One of the constants in Alvin's childhood was attendance at the True Vine Baptist Church. His mother sang in the choir. Ailey's immersion in the experience of charismatic and enthusiastic worship filled with gospel music and traditional spiritual songs had a lasting affect. Later in life, he choreographed dances to some of the music he first heard as a churchgoing youngster. In 1943, he and his mother moved to Los Angeles, California. Alvin was fourteen years old then. His mother worked often. The teen used his freedom after school to explore the city.Ailey was drawn to the music from the big band jazz clubs while the musicians practiced for their evening shows. He was also drawn to the theater marquees announcing upcoming shows like Billie Holliday, Duke Ellington, and others. One day he spotted a hand bill with a photo of Katherine Dunham, a dancer costumed in layers and layers of ruffles. At the time, Dunham's dance troupe was the only group of dancers touring and performing dances from Africa, Haiti, and Latin America. Ailey's curiosity was so intense that he found himself peeking in the stage door to catch sight of the performance of Dunham's Tropical Revue.This was the beginning of Ailey's lifelong passion for dance. Alvin began hanging around the stage door of the theater during the run of Dunham's show. He was there so often that one of the dancers invited him backstage and into the auditorium to watch. This introduction led him to study dance. Initially, Alvin took dance classes in the style and method of choreographer and dancer Katherine Dunham, from a student of hers. However, he was not really comfortable with this style that involved abandoning oneself to sensuous full body movement.Later, he was introduced to dance teacher Lester Horton. Horton had a dance school in nearby in Hollywood and his style was more straightforward. After seeing the school performance of fellow Jefferson High School student and Horton protege, Carmen de Lavallade, Alvin signed on with Horton. Lavallade was to be a lifelong friend and colleague of Ailey's. While studying with Horton, Ailey pursued college courses in the Romance languages. At various times Ailey was enrolled at the University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles City College, and the University of California, Berkeley.He studied the writings of James Baldwin, Langston Hughes, and Carson McCullers. His scholarly pursuits led him away from Lester Horton's school. In late summer of 1951, Ailey left for San Francisco to work and go to school. He soon befriended a young singer and dancer by the name of Margareurite Angelos (Maya Angelou). The two worked up a nightclub act called â€Å"Al and Rita. † They performed occasionally, and Ailey earned a living waiting tables and dancing at the New Orleans Champagne Supper Club. It was here that he first began choreographing acts of his own.This experience also marked the end of his college pursuits. Ailey started his own dance company in 1958, featuring primarily African American dancers. The company was invited back to Ted Shawn's summer dance festival in Massachusetts, in the summer of 1959. Following the stint, Susan Pimsleur, a concert manager offered to add the Ailey dancers to her roster. She laid out a plan for tours and concerts and designed a brochure, calling the company the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. A third concert at the 92nd Street YMCA was planned for January 31, 1960.It was during this performance that Ailey first staged his signature work, Revelations. The piece came from a very deep place within Ailey's psyche. The performance was an intense expression of heavenly faith, earthly despair, and unquenchable humanity. From its very first performance that January day, the audience jumped to their feet with a res ounding ovation. The producer of the dance program at the YMCA finally went on to the stage to silence the audience and announce that due to the overwhelming response of the audience, a second performance would be scheduled, an unprecedented fro that venue.In 1961, the United States Department of State approached Ailey, and invited him to travel in Southeast Asiaa for a thirteen week tour produced by the President's Special International Program for Cultural Presentations. Ailey accepted the invitation. He gathered dancers including some from his Horton days, including de Lavallade, Truitte and others. This was the first of many successful tours by the company. In a three years, Ailey had created a company and a body of work that communicated powerfully and conveyed to the world the beauty and universality of art and its rightful place in American culture.Alvin wrote in program notes for one of the tours, â€Å"The cultural heritage of the American Negro is one of America's richest treasures. â€Å"Ailey integrated his dance company in 1963. He also did some acting and directing. One notable production he directed was Langston Hughes’s Jericho-Jim Crow (1964). In summer of 1965, Ailey spotted Judith Jamison, a strikingly tall dancer with a strong foundation in ballet, at an audition he was attending. Ailey saw something special in her and tracked her down to invite her to join the company. She accepted, and today it is Jamison who runs the AAADT.Presented around the world by the Ailey's dance theater, the choreographic masterpiece Revelations, which is based on Ailey's experience growing up as an African American in the South, is among the best known and most frequently seen of modern dance performances. This piece ‘speaks' to audiences of all stripes in such a profound and inspiring way that audiences often leap to their feet in ovation at the close of the performance. It is a timeless portrayal of the experience of the American south of the fi rst half of the twentieth century.Ailey has been memorialized by the renaming of West 61st Street between Amsterdam and Columbus Avenues in New York City as â€Å"Alvin Ailey Way;† the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater was located on that block at 211 West 61st Street from 1989 until 2005, when it moved to a new, bigger facility at the corner of West 55th Street and Ninth Avenue. In 1987, Ailey received the Samuel H. Scripps American Dance Festival Award. The citation on the award read, â€Å"To Alvin Ailey, dancer teacher and choreographer, whose work is generated from the heart and powered by passion; he stands as a model of artistic integrity.An American, informed by the Black experience, Mr. Ailey's choreography presses through cultural lines and speaks a universal language. His dances, whether sassy, sad, witty or lyrical, have brought joy and a sense of purpose to people throughout the world. Alvin Ailey's consistent artistic achievements have insured him a place as a giant in the history of American modern dance. † His longtime friend, Harry Belafonte presented the award. Ailey was awarded the Kennedy Center Honors in 1988. Alvin Ailey Gerald L. Archard November 22, 2010 2nd block dance 2 Dance Pioneers, Companies, and Choreographers Alvin Ailey Alvin Ailey, Jr. was an African American modern dancer, dance teacher and choreographer, who founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Ailey was a gifted creator of dance expressing the African American cultural experience and history. His choreographic works live on in performances by the company he founded. The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater toured extensively and regularly in Europe and Asia during Ailey's lifetime, making Ailey a familiar name worldwide.His works continue to inspire, uplift, educate, and communicate brilliance to all who witness them. One of his best known works, the choreographic masterpiece, Revelations, based on Ailey's experience growing up as an African American in the South, consistently brings audiences to their feet in enthusiastic, spontaneous ovation. Ailey was born to his 17-year-old mother, Lula Cooper, in Rogers, Texas. His father abandoned the family when Alvin was only a few months old. Ailey's mother was determined to make a better life for herself and child. She moved numerous times in Ailey's early years.One of the constants in Alvin's childhood was attendance at the True Vine Baptist Church. His mother sang in the choir. Ailey's immersion in the experience of charismatic and enthusiastic worship filled with gospel music and traditional spiritual songs had a lasting affect. Later in life, he choreographed dances to some of the music he first heard as a churchgoing youngster. In 1943, he and his mother moved to Los Angeles, California. Alvin was fourteen years old then. His mother worked often. The teen used his freedom after school to explore the city.Ailey was drawn to the music from the big band jazz clubs while the musicians practiced for their evening shows. He was also drawn to the theater marquees announcing upcoming shows like Billie Holliday, Duke Ellington, and others. One day he spotted a hand bill with a photo of Katherine Dunham, a dancer costumed in layers and layers of ruffles. At the time, Dunham's dance troupe was the only group of dancers touring and performing dances from Africa, Haiti, and Latin America. Ailey's curiosity was so intense that he found himself peeking in the stage door to catch sight of the performance of Dunham's Tropical Revue.This was the beginning of Ailey's lifelong passion for dance. Alvin began hanging around the stage door of the theater during the run of Dunham's show. He was there so often that one of the dancers invited him backstage and into the auditorium to watch. This introduction led him to study dance. Initially, Alvin took dance classes in the style and method of choreographer and dancer Katherine Dunham, from a student of hers. However, he was not really comfortable with this style that involved abandoning oneself to sensuous full body movement.Later, he was introduced to dance teacher Lester Horton. Horton had a dance school in nearby in Hollywood and his style was more straightforward. After seeing the school performance of fellow Jefferson High School student and Horton protege, Carmen de Lavallade, Alvin signed on with Horton. Lavallade was to be a lifelong friend and colleague of Ailey's. While studying with Horton, Ailey pursued college courses in the Romance languages. At various times Ailey was enrolled at the University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles City College, and the University of California, Berkeley.He studied the writings of James Baldwin, Langston Hughes, and Carson McCullers. His scholarly pursuits led him away from Lester Horton's school. In late summer of 1951, Ailey left for San Francisco to work and go to school. He soon befriended a young singer and dancer by the name of Margareurite Angelos (Maya Angelou). The two worked up a nightclub act called â€Å"Al and Rita. † They performed occasionally, and Ailey earned a living waiting tables and dancing at the New Orleans Champagne Supper Club. It was here that he first began choreographing acts of his own.This experience also marked the end of his college pursuits. Ailey started his own dance company in 1958, featuring primarily African American dancers. The company was invited back to Ted Shawn's summer dance festival in Massachusetts, in the summer of 1959. Following the stint, Susan Pimsleur, a concert manager offered to add the Ailey dancers to her roster. She laid out a plan for tours and concerts and designed a brochure, calling the company the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. A third concert at the 92nd Street YMCA was planned for January 31, 1960.It was during this performance that Ailey first staged his signature work, Revelations. The piece came from a very deep place within Ailey's psyche. The performance was an intense expression of heavenly faith, earthly despair, and unquenchable humanity. From its very first performance that January day, the audience jumped to their feet with a res ounding ovation. The producer of the dance program at the YMCA finally went on to the stage to silence the audience and announce that due to the overwhelming response of the audience, a second performance would be scheduled, an unprecedented fro that venue.In 1961, the United States Department of State approached Ailey, and invited him to travel in Southeast Asiaa for a thirteen week tour produced by the President's Special International Program for Cultural Presentations. Ailey accepted the invitation. He gathered dancers including some from his Horton days, including de Lavallade, Truitte and others. This was the first of many successful tours by the company. In a three years, Ailey had created a company and a body of work that communicated powerfully and conveyed to the world the beauty and universality of art and its rightful place in American culture.Alvin wrote in program notes for one of the tours, â€Å"The cultural heritage of the American Negro is one of America's richest treasures. â€Å"Ailey integrated his dance company in 1963. He also did some acting and directing. One notable production he directed was Langston Hughes’s Jericho-Jim Crow (1964). In summer of 1965, Ailey spotted Judith Jamison, a strikingly tall dancer with a strong foundation in ballet, at an audition he was attending. Ailey saw something special in her and tracked her down to invite her to join the company. She accepted, and today it is Jamison who runs the AAADT.Presented around the world by the Ailey's dance theater, the choreographic masterpiece Revelations, which is based on Ailey's experience growing up as an African American in the South, is among the best known and most frequently seen of modern dance performances. This piece ‘speaks' to audiences of all stripes in such a profound and inspiring way that audiences often leap to their feet in ovation at the close of the performance. It is a timeless portrayal of the experience of the American south of the fi rst half of the twentieth century.Ailey has been memorialized by the renaming of West 61st Street between Amsterdam and Columbus Avenues in New York City as â€Å"Alvin Ailey Way;† the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater was located on that block at 211 West 61st Street from 1989 until 2005, when it moved to a new, bigger facility at the corner of West 55th Street and Ninth Avenue. In 1987, Ailey received the Samuel H. Scripps American Dance Festival Award. The citation on the award read, â€Å"To Alvin Ailey, dancer teacher and choreographer, whose work is generated from the heart and powered by passion; he stands as a model of artistic integrity.An American, informed by the Black experience, Mr. Ailey's choreography presses through cultural lines and speaks a universal language. His dances, whether sassy, sad, witty or lyrical, have brought joy and a sense of purpose to people throughout the world. Alvin Ailey's consistent artistic achievements have insured him a place as a giant in the history of American modern dance. † His longtime friend, Harry Belafonte presented the award. Ailey was awarded the Kennedy Center Honors in 1988.

Relationship to Background Research Essay

Researchers Dunbar and Waynforth (1995) carried out research into human differences in mate selection by focusing on 900 different lonely-hearts ads taken from four different American newspapers. The investigation aimed to see what characteristics males and females looked for in potential mates by analysing each ad and recording how each person described themselves and what characteristics they looked for in a partner. It was found that women were more likely to advertise themselves as physically attractive, whereas males tended to highlight their economic status, displaying their potential ability to provide. Darwin’s theory supports this, as stereotypically good looking women will be good child bearers and provide ample food and care for children, and therefore will be more likely to produce healthy children with good genes for the next generation. Similarly, by highlighting their economic status men label themselves as good providers for children and will be able to care and help throughout the child’s life, meaning chance of survival is higher. Furthermore, stereotypically good-looking men (big, muscley etc) will have a higher chance of survival and therefore pass on these good genes to their offspring. I am going to investigate Darwin’s sexual strategy theory similarly to Dunbar’s methods, by looking into the way in which people advertise themselves in personal advertisements and seeing if they relate with Darwin’s, Andersson and Cunningham’s ideas about physical appearance and also pervious research done by Dunbar. I would be interested in finding out if Dunbar’s results done in America are similar to results that I will find in Macclesfield (England). I would further be interested in seeing if results have changed over time as men and women’s perceptions of each other may have differed in the last few years. His research led to my directional hypothesis which is â€Å"Men will describe their resources more than youth and looks in personal advertisements, women will describe their looks and youth more than resources. â€Å"The aim of the experiment is to find out what characteristics men and women offer when advertising himself or herself as a potential mate and to investigate if there are gender differences between the way men and women make themselves attractive to the opposite sex through lonely hearts advertisements. inspiration My directional hypothesis therefore, as influenced by Dunbar, is that heterosexual men will be more likely to offer resources such as wealth and financial stability. Heterosexual women, however, are more likely to offer youth and physical attractiveness. The null hypothesis would be as follows: there will be no significant difference between how men and women advertise themselves to the opposite sex.

Case analysis-Harrington Collection Essay

Problem identification In 2008, Harrington Collection, a large manufacturer and retailer of U.S. high-end women’s apparel, was facing opportunities and challenges whether to launch of active-wear products to meet the market and customers’ needs. But according to the macroeconomic environment, the target market, competitors and its own financial condition, Harrington needed to take careful consideration and then make the best decision for their own development. The U.S. women’s apparel industry Market trends From the data of U.S. Apparel Market Sale (2002-07), we could find out that, even when subjected to the impact of the economic downturn, the U.S. women’s apparel industry remained in a mature and stable state and held by continued growth momentum. The Retail Sales increased from $106 billion in 2002, to $133 billion in 2007. The average annual growth rate is 4.7%. It showed that the total sales of the women’s apparel industry did not receive the macroeconomic impact. Consumers still had a high desire to go shopping. At the same time, analyzed the data from U.S. Apparel Market Units, influenced by the economic downturn, consumers were more interested in less than $100, low-priced women’s apparel. From 2005 to 2007, the growth rate of units sold in more than $200 is 3.4%, the product growth rate of between $100-200 is 1.4%, and $50 to 100 product growth rate is 14.3%, while less than $50 low-priced products have the highest growth rate of 16.1%. The low-cost market has a great opportunity for manufacturers. Characteristics and competition The value chain of the women’s apparel industry is about: (1) branding; (2) design; (3) buying; (4) production; (5) channel marketing; (6) distribution; and (7) retailing. In the era of apparel products are relative homogenization, price war seems to become a common method to erode the market share of each other between brands. Each brand need to face how to  effectively reduce costs. Many brands established overseas plants or outsourced to overseas factories. This could reduce their cost of production and labor. Through effective monitoring, the overseas factory’s products also have a good quality. This makes the increased competition on the market. Women’s apparel retailers included department stores, mass merchandisers, specialty stores, and warehouse clubs/supercenters. Among them, the specialty stores got the 1st position, 58.6% share of channel, changed 11% from 2005 to 2007. The 2nd place is department store, 19.0%. Mass merchandisers got the 3rd position with 11.4%. In the retailing women’s apparel for the U.S. market, the most important distribution channel is specialty store. Harrington Collection Company’s background As a nearly 50-year history of the women’s apparel brand, Harrington Collection has a clear market positioning. Targeted at the high-end market is the original intention of Harrington Collection. The 1980s, the Harrington Collection expanded Vigor and Christina Cole brands, the product line aimed at the younger customer market. Because of their superior quality, knowledgeable sales staff and designer styles, they have a group of loyal customers. Four product lines Harrington Collection targeted affluent, fashionable, college-educated, professional women from 25 to 60. This company has four product lines, covered three classifications (Designer, Bridge, and Better) of the women’s apparel market. They targeted women of different ages, different background, and different family income. The Harrington Limited, as the â€Å"Designer† classification. This product line focuses on the Designer Collection, targets the customer as â€Å"Sophisticated Elegance†. Their age is from 35 to 60, an average household income is more than $200k. The retail price range is $500-$1000+. And it has 20% of Market Share, as the â€Å"Cash Cow†. It shows Harrington Collection’s market position is a high-end brand. Harrington Limited is the company’s most important product, and as a high-end brand, the products could show the strength of Harrington Collection. The Sopra, positions as the â€Å"Bridge† classification. This product line focuses on the Evening Wear; it targets the consumers of â€Å"Status Seeker†. The retail price  is about $400-$800. Most of the customers are 35-60; household income is more than $150k. The market share of Sopra is the lowest among the four product lines, only 5%. It is the â€Å"Dog† product, but the Evening Wear means the high-end position of a company, Harrington Collection needs to keep this product line. The Christina Cole, positions as the â€Å"Bridge† classification. This product line focuses on the high-end Career Wear; it targets the customers of â€Å"Office Chic†, with the price from $300-$700. The average information of the customers is 30-55, with more than $100k household income. The market share is 8%. The market positioning of this classification’s products are very competitive, so 8% is acceptable. It is the â€Å"Star†. The Vigor, â€Å"Better† classification’s product line, focuses on the Career Wear. Targeted customers are â€Å"Trend Setter†. They are from 25 to 50, with more than $75k household income. As the targeted age of the customers is younger than the others product lines, this line is full of fresh and flexible. It is able to adapt to the needs of the market to react and change, the â€Å"Star†. Manufactory strategy Harrington Collection does not set up overseas factories in Asia or outsourcing, for two reasons. First, they expected of high-quality women’s apparel products, good quality make their products to attract high-end consumers. Second, they hoped to catch up with the fashion, the close plants will have a high speed to deliver their product to the retail department, it could be able to help the brand issue season’s trend styles with the fastest speed. This strategy improves the cost of product, but it will help to enhance the brand image. Active wear In recent years, more and more of the company launched its own active wear products, just like hoodie, pants, and tee-shirt. Consumers buy active wear’s aimed not just in gym, but worn in everyday life. Consumers believe that active wear is very comfortable, very fresh, and very casual. There is also a very important reason, active wear is relatively cheap. In 2007, the â€Å"moderate† and â€Å"budget† classifications got 80% of market share on the apparel market and sold 7.5 million units in that year. But in 2009, many brands started to transform at the level of the â€Å"better† active wear. The average selling price was just below $100.By such changes in the market, we  can see that the consumer’s demand of high-grade active wear was increased. And consumers are willing and able to buy high-end active wear. Active wear of Vigor Division To Harrington Collection, in 2007 and 2008, the active wear market was not suitable for them to locate a high-end brand. Their brands, Vigor, the lowest level of the product line, but also achieve the â€Å"Better† classification. At that time, the consumers were more interested in the cheaper products. But the Market trends had a sudden shift in 2009, so Harrington Collection got an excellent opportunity to join into the active wear market. Harrington Collection’s Vigor brand is the most suitable for the introduction of active wear products. In the minds of consumers, Harrington Collection is a high-end brand, if Vigor was able to launch active wear products, would be favored by the consumers of high-end brands. Vigor’s styles were much more flexible than the others brands of Harrington Collection. And the core styles of active wear were about fresh and lifestyle. As a brand of Harrington Collection, Vigor continued the strategy of their company, provided the hi gh quality and agility products to fix the consumers’ needs, wants, and demands. This would attract the existing customers of Harrington Collection to purchase Vigor active wear products, because they believed that these garments were high quality and fashion. The Vigor team made decision about pricing. That hoodie, tee-shirt, and pants would be $100, $40, and $80, it seemed not a very high price, the working-class even could afford for them. It could help Vigor to get shares in the market of â€Å"moderate† classification. However, the establishment of a new product line requires the purchase of new equipment, the new plant, equipped with the appropriate staff. Harrington Collection needed to build a management team, design team. However, even the prospects of the market were perfect, but it still had a high risk to invest. Because of the market was full of uncertainties. But as a very promising project, Harrington Collection should carry out investment and development. Potential retail trade Because of the Vigor has laid a foundation, with a number of loyal customers. The active wear’s released as a new product sold in the present  market. Consumers can purchase the Vigor products from company-owned stores, upscale department and sociality stores. Company-owned stores’ sales and units are about 20% of the other two kind’s stores. Company-owned stores As the retail group of the Harrington Collection, they operated 120 stores, 50 of them were dedicated solely to the Vigor division. As the advantages of these stores that belong to the same forest senior enterprise distribution strategy can be effective implementation. Harrington Collection can avoid large retailers control, independent development and implementation of the marketing strategy. In these stores, Harrington Collection can be unified planning, unified propaganda, to help establish and enhance brand image. The stores’ management can be more direct contact with the market, and is easy to understand the changes in market demand, and at first time to adjust the marketing strategy. But with the high operating costs, many involve the management of business, need to invest a lot of manpower, material and financial resources. Upscale department and sociality stores As another two very important sales channels, they sold 80% of the Harrington Collection’s products. Both the two storefronts implement the same plan and strategy, with a certain degree of stability and integrity, and at the same time are able to avoid the vicious competition among the channel members. However, in this distribution channel, the prices of the previous link directly decide the latter part of the cost. Vigor’s active-wear The Vigor active-wear’s pricing relative to other products is relatively low, less than $100. This series is a strong attraction for consumers. In the initial launch, Vigor would be vigorously publicized. With Harrington Collection’s brand awareness, it was estimated that due to the current market demand is relatively large, and will soon get a valid response. The pricing strategy of Vigor active-wear is market skimming prices. Although these prices are lower than the other products of Vigor. But the variable costs of these products are only $20.55 (Hoodie), $7.50 (Tee-shirt), and $16.40 (Pants). The pricings are $100.00 (Hoodie), $40.00 (Tee-shirt), and $80 (Pants). Even with other related variable costs, and the fixed costs as  well as the construction of the plant, the purchase of equipment, and the administrative expenses of the management. The total cost of the product is much lower than the pricing. This pricing strategy can maximize profits of each single product. And it will not affect their own brand positioning to consumers buying enthusiasm. These products as same with other products of Vigor, will perform the same sales strategy; simultaneous promotion. The active-wear will not become a special product, which will affect the attitude of consumers to Vigor, that the active-wear of lower grade, or a decline in sales situations. Vigor’s competitors’ reaction â€Å"Better† level Positioning â€Å"Better† level the active-wear market is very competitive. Liz Claiborne’s Juicy Couture was one of the early leaders in this market. The leading companies, such as Jones Apparel Group and Liz Claiborne, both of them had a high share in the women’s apparel market. Even more, most of their products positioned in the â€Å"Better† classification. After Harrington Collection released Vigor series active-wear, the two companies will certainly respond. These two competitors in the overall grade lower than Harrington Collection, but because they build factories in the third world, their cost is lower than Harrington Collection, so they can drive down prices, establish a price war in this â€Å"Better† classification. At the same level, the relative homogenizations of active-wear products make it difficult to get a breakthrough in the design. So the price seems to have become a major factor in many consumers’ choice. Each company will be fully developed characteristics of their own company’s products, in order to attract more loyal customers, and seize the market share of other companies. Other levels Competitors with the same grade of the Harrington Collection will seize this opportunity to enter the active-wear market. They will not have a distinct advantage in the price, even in the presence of a disadvantage. But their quality may be higher, more innovative style design; fabric selection will be more comfortable. These products will attract high-end consumers’ details. The low-end brands will not impact on the formation of Vigor. They target different customer groups, both the customers will not be  influenced by each other. There is no direct competition, but would impact overall active-wear market share. Potential financial impact of Vigor active-wear manufacturing group The establishment and promotion of a new product needs to Harrington Collection invest. As the Vigor active-wear manufacturing group, this part of the investment is very high. The pants’ equipment costing was about $2 million and plant start-up cost estimated at $1.2 million. This program’s cost estimated $3 million. The hoodie and tee-shirt’s equipment costing was about $2.5 million and plant start-up cost estimated at $2.5 million. This program’s cost estimated $3.5 million. The expenses of national advertising and public relations campaign were estimated at $2 million. The carrying of active-wear line for every company-owned store was $50000 per store. The total carrying expense was about $2.5 million for 50 company-owned stores. The other data will be calculated in the form at the end of this part. In the end, the profit before tax in 2009 was $6,304,590. The profit margin before tax was 15.8%. Make decision A mature company should be good at discovering market opportunities, and seize the opportunity. Every investment has its risks, and identifies real opportunities for each company is very important. As people increasingly focus on practical demand for clothing, active-wear has good market prospects, and Harrington Collection has an advantage for the development of this product line. Even though the initial investment is huge, but this product is also huge gains. These products sale for a period of time then  the early investment will be recovered form earnings. Harrington Collection should let Vigor add this product line.

The Correlation between Unemployment and Divorce Rates in the United Term Paper

The Correlation between Unemployment and Divorce Rates in the United States - Term Paper Example A tendency to emphasize the social and economic costs of unemployment on society in the aggregate avoids the clear and definite problems that joblessness creates in the home. Some of these household challenges are responsible for lowering levels of subjective well-being in society, which exacerbates the negative overall effects of unemployment. One particularly troubling hypothesis is that divorce tends to increase to some degree in proportion to unemployment rates in developed countries (Jensen & Smith, 1990). The marriage destabilization caused by the loss of a job and the perhaps long-term unemployment that results may explain a great number of divorces. However, especially as one deals with aggregate population data from past years, one is not dealing with causal inferences but rather correlational observations. While it is intuitive to speculate that unemployment increases risk to divorce, one could wonder whether divorce is likely to increase unemployment. It does not seem out of the question that marital instability increases one’s chances of being dismissed or issuing a resignation from his or her work. In fact, Rogers and May (2003) found a significant correlation between increases in marital discord (defined as thoughts or actions supportive of divorce) and declines in job satisfaction. Finding a statistical correlation between unemployment and divorce would signify a number of things, namely that individuals facing long-term unemployment but are happy in their marriages should take steps to ensure the sustainability of that relationship through financial hardships. At a broader level, predictors of unemployment can also be taken as predictors of higher divorces, which give society a chance to plan for increased levels of marital instability in addition to unemployment

Businesses and Society Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 15

Businesses and Society - Essay Example As the paper outlines they also need to meet other expenses such as food as well as other related bills from this same income. Against this backdrop, it can be noted that the basic problem addressed is that elderly people remain citizens of their given communities and they should be honoured and cushioned from paying high prices especially on drugs that are meant to save their lives from threatening diseases. The main concepts being addressed here include the issue of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and that of morality which derives from the concept of ethics. There is need to balance the needs of the people in the society and the need for businesses to be profitable in a moral fashion. This paper highlights that Strydom suggests that â€Å"Social responsibility is the concept that maintains that businesses are part of the larger society in which they exist and are accountable to the society for their operations.† In other words, there is need for the organisations to strike a fine balance between the needs and interests of customers, needs of the environment and the need for businesses to realise their financial goals. This goes hand in hand with the concept of ethics, which is loosely defined as an attempt to distinguish between something that is morally good from bad. The issues of morality and social responsibility have gained prominence especially with regards to the ways businesses operate. There is need for businesses to establish goodwill with the values and norms of any given society it would be operating in as a way of promoting mutual understanding. The success of any given company would be determined by its willingness to observe the social norms of the areas it would be operating in.