Tuesday, December 24, 2019

My Sisters Keeper Essay - 750 Words

In My Sister’s Keeper, Jodi Picoult tells the story of a family who is faced with a tragedy and in turn creates an ethical dilemma without even realizing it. Brian and Sarah Fitzgerald don’t think they will have any more children after Jesse and Kate, but when Kate is diagnosed with leukemia ideas of having another child spark in the minds of the Fitzgeralds. Although one might think the Fitzgeralds would have another child to replace the one they may lose, their plan is to use the child to keep Kate alive. The Fitzgeralds have a doctor genetically select an embryo as a perfect match for Kate and a short nine months later Anna is born so she can be used as â€Å"spare parts† every time Kate’s organs fail. The most important issue presented in†¦show more content†¦If I could rewrite the book I would make it so Anna lived and she would donate her kidney to Kate so that Kate lived too. I know that Kate wanted to die, but from Anna’s perspectiv e, I would not have let my sister die that I just spent my whole life keeping alive. This probably wouldn’t have made such a dramatic and exciting book, but that’s why I’m studying to be a nurse and not aShow MoreRelatedMy Sisters Keeper Essay1024 Words   |  5 PagesMy Sisters Keeper is the story of Anna Fitzgerald, who by the age of thirteen has undergone many blood transfusions, numerous surgeries, and multiple bone marrow transplants. â€Å"Most babies are accidents, not me. I was engineered, born to save my sister’s life.† At the beginning of the movie Anna explains that she as conceived to be a donor for her sister, Kate. Kate is a 16 year old with renal failure due to a very rare form of leukemia. The girls parents expect Anna to donate her kidney toRead MoreThe Movie My Sisters Keeper Essay1376 Words   |  6 PagesMy Sister’s Keeper The movie â€Å"My Sister’s Keeper,† is based on the best-selling novel by Jodi Picoult; it explores the medical, legal, and ethical issues that pose a dilemma not revealed until the very end of the movie. The director, Nick Cassavetes, plays out an honest story that overwhelms his audience with waves of emotion by illustrating the daily battles of a young, genuine, and sincere cancer patient. Although an unfamiliar story to most, Mr. Cassavetes is able to grasp a sense of realismRead MoreDilemmas in My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult Essays2758 Words   |  12 PagesPHI 111 Final Paper: Dilemmas in My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult The novel â€Å"My Sister’s Keeper† by Jodi Picoult explores the medical, legal, ethical and moral issues related to long term illness and discusses some of the bioethical issues around the experimental technique known as pre-implantation genetic diagnosis. The author presents many ethical dilemmas when a couple chooses to genetically engineer a baby to create a bone marrow match for their terminally ill daughter. That creation isRead MoreEssay on My Sister’s Keeper Shouldnt be a Challenged Book1508 Words   |  7 Pagesnovel My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult is a challenged book because of its homosexuality, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexism, sexually explicit scenes, violence, and being unsuited to its age group; by all means this novel should not be challenged because, it’s use of offensive language is only used to intensify certain situations, and through all of the controversial issues it employs, it puts in perspective just how far someone would go for his/her family. This novel, My Sister’sRead MoreMy Sisters Keeper Essay1141 Words   |  5 PagesAnna had spoken in opposition to any further use of her body, I feel her mother, in particular, went too far. She constantly struggled with whether she should play the mother role or the lawyer role. I feel that the mother went too far because, in my opinion, there should have been no question in deciphering what role she should have assumed after Anna filed a lawsuit against her parents for the rights of her own body. Furthermore, I think any donation that would compromise the health of a childRead MoreMy Sisters Keeper5805 Words   |  24 PagesMy Sister’s Keeper Based on the book by Jodi Picoult ACKNOWLEDGEMENT First and foremost, we would all like to thank the Man with the Big guns from above named God. We thank you the most for without you we would never be able to do the things we love in life. We would never be able to see and feel the great wonders of the world that you have made for us especially the friendship and love that you never fail to provide us. Thank you for that. To our teacher we thank you forRead MoreMy Sisters Keeper969 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"the thing about flame is that it’s insidious - it sneaks, it licks, it looks over its shoulder and laughs. . . Like a sunset eating everything in its path† My Sister’s Keeper: Literary Essay The novel My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult has an astounding contrast between appearance and reality. Throughout the world people keep secrets from each other. What motivates them to do this? Jodi Picoult develops this contrast by examining each character’s thoughts and motivation through a point-of-viewRead MoreAdaptation Theory Of The Movie The Fault Of Our Stars 1436 Words   |  6 Pageswere brought up were the text on the screen in The Fault in Our Stars, which served to mimic Hazel and Gus’ communication over text and email. Another example from earlier in the semester was the inclusion of many unnecessary voice overs in My Sister’s Keeper to keep the feel of the book intact in the film. However, even though fidelity is an easy idea to wrap ones head around when looking at adaptation, I propose that it be disregarded. Instead, we should be taking a closer look at the readingsRead More Lifting as We Climb Essay3009 Words   |  13 Pagesportraye d in her narrative. She makes many references to God and Christianity, one example occurs when Mr. Sands leaves her son Benjamin up North. When Linda hears of this news, she immediately rejoices, I knelt down and thanked [God] from my heart, that one of my family was saved from the grasp of slavery (Jacobs 455). In another instance, when she reaches the north, she finds a woman to work for who was quite kind and generous, and again she gives all thanks to the Lord: the heavenly Father hadRead MoreBelonging Essay4112 Words   |  17 Pageschoosing a related text do not choose from the below list. Tan, Amy, The Joy Luck Club Lahiri, Jhumpa, The Namesake Dickens, Charles, Great Expectations Jhabvala, Ruth Prawer, Heat and Dust Winch, Tara June, Swallow the Air Gaita, Raimond, Romulus, My Father Miller, Arthur, The Crucible: A Play in Four Acts Harrison, Jane, Rainbow’s End Luhrmann, Baz, Strictly Ballroom - film De Heer, Rolf, Ten Canoes - film Shakespeare, William, As You Like It Skrzynecki, Peter, Immigrant Chronicle Dickinson, Emily

Monday, December 16, 2019

Secret Facts About Professional Essay

Secret Facts About Professional Essay Additionally you must make certain that you use paragraphs and adhere to the guidelines set out for the usage of primary and secondary sources. The main reason is that different varieties of essays require that you follow distinctive guidelines. When you're writing, attempt to prevent employing the exact words and phrases over and over again. In the event you don't have sufficient time to compose different essay sections with equal authority, you might want to use our custom writing help. Imagine there's a team of specialist essay writers online leaving the trace of satisfied customers as gathering increasingly more performed orders of top quality. Our professional writing service has become the leader in the business for last several decades. Searching for the very best writing service is based on one leading factor on whether you will secure a guarantee for the money or not. It's well worth mentioning that we offer `cheap' essay help, but it doesn't indicate you are going to have to cover cheap services, when it comes to quality. Its primary goal is to highlight the most significant points about the discipline. Bear in mind you need to finish the very first draft of the essay days before the deadline so you have lots of time to edit it. It's possible to also do some studying to discover more about the points to discuss to be able to present a logical and compelling review. Your time is equally as valuable as ours, so we'll never make you wait! Ideas change the Earth, particularly when they're written. Essay Writing is among the most underrated things to do. Writing an essay isn't under a menacing undertaking. An essay, or a paper, has a huge set of rules that you have to follow if they'd love to have a superior grade. Essay body writing Every essay needs a typical structure if there aren't any other instructions. Having written the very first draft, it's important to revise your paper to give it an ideal appearance. Reading samples of response papers is also an additional way by which you can easily learn how to compose a reaction paper to documentary. The Fundamentals of Professional Essay Revealed Whilst writing an essay you must keep in mind that the statement is the most significant thing. The majority of the folks have a tendency to run away from politics and thus the politics essays also, therefore it is quite important to grab the eye of the readers till the conclusion of the essay and that would be much difficult I know. Make sure the language which you use to compose an essay conclusion is simple to comprehend. Any conclusion to an essay containing errors is normally an extremely huge drawback as it may make the entire essay look unprofessionally done, even if this isn't the circumstance. Examine the essay for plagiarism A great essay is a special essay, thus a check for plagiarism is an extremely important stage. You should come up with an idea based on the way in which the documentary touched you. The title of the essay may also be shown in a different orientation from the most important topic. Even if you believe your essay subjects are obscure, we've got a writer that's right for you, even for political sciences and religion. The Chronicles of Professional Essay Soon after starting the job of writing your essay completely by yourself, you will see that it's tough to finish it without a professional's help. The absolute most productive writers write each day, at the very least a bit. In the long run, however, remember that great writing doesn't happen by accident. If you're retaining a professional writing and editing assistance, it is important to locate a writer you trust. 1 way to consider the conclusion is, inconsistently, as a second introduction as it does actually cover several of the very same structures. There is not anything wrong in being brief or succinct and to the point provided that it conveys the message you mean to highlight. The second portion of the essay is the body. The most significant thing is that you justify all you say in your essay. So How About Professional Essay? Essay writing requires students to remain focused on for a lengthy time period. The PTE Academic exam is also the least expensive test of English in the industry. College essays are generally a lot more complicated as compared to the ones that you may have written in school. As a special bonus, students may find a discount at our services! The Argument About Professional Essay Typically, essay asks a research on the subject and various thoughts. Hence, if you believe banking essays are boring just like your company studies are, then you're probably wrong here. Banking essays can be real fun to play with if you've got an exhaustive u nderstanding about the discipline and have keen interest in writing, so should you believe you cannot write decent banking essays than again you're erroneous.

Sunday, December 8, 2019

Career Goal-Setting Worksheet free essay sample

1. Adjust your professional or career goal you created in Week Two based on the Career Plan Building Activities results from the My Career Plan assignment. How did the results of the Career Interest Profiler and Career Plan Building Activity on Competencies contribute to your professional goal development? After seeing my results from each one of these I came to find that I came right on track with the career that I chose. Because in my Career Plan Building Activity the results was right on track because I love working with people. I can not think about working doing a nother kind of job because this is what I want to do. 2. Describe how you will balance academic expectations and your personal and professional responsibilities. I believe the most important expectation would be to contact my advisor least once a week. Learn about what is required for me doing the time I am in school. We will write a custom essay sample on Career Goal-Setting Worksheet or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Like the requirements for my major, policies, and procedures.And develop an plan such as my academic plan, including my timeline that I work as I near graduation. 3. How can understanding the importance of SMART criteria and your career interests and competencies help you move toward your career and academic goals? After doing my SMART criteria and interest profiler They let me know where I were haeded and now I know that I working toward the degree. Both the SMART criteria and the inerest profiler gave me some pretty good ideals about what kind of job I should have. Both let me knew that I love to work with other people. 4. Now that you have set academic goals and identified your career interests, explain the relationship between academic goals, skills, and professional goals. My academic goal is to one day be able to work with groups of people and may work with kids. And the professional goal I am working toward getting is near the same as the each of these the academic gaols, skills, and my professional. I plan to work toward my career goal by doing what ever it take in achieve my goal.

Sunday, December 1, 2019

Supply Chain Management and Modern Technologies

Introduction The requirements of the marketplace when conducting supply chain management is largely dependent on whether an organisation is in need of pursuing either the lean or agile paradigms. The two supply chain parameters are distinctively different. For instance, in terms of the market winner, the agile paradigm is tagged on availability while the lean one is pegged on cost.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Supply Chain Management and Modern Technologies specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In other words, nimbleness in a market that is overly sensitive works well in an agile supply chain contrary to the lean supply chain where waste definition is the clear cut line.  Another important parameter in supply chain management is the proper location of decoupling points. This is imperative bearing in mind that there is need to engineer a hybrid supply chain where both materials and information can flow smoothly f orm the point of production to consumption. When the latter is effectively implemented, it will enhance positive outcome associated with both types of supply chain. For example, efficiency will be visible in a lean system while the agile supply chain will encourage an effective supply downstream. There are quite a number of supply chain management technologies that have been adopted in the contemporary business spheres. One such technology is the use of RFID to track down materials or products from the point of production or sale to the end user. The only loophole in the application of RFID in supply chain management seems to be emanating from outside such as lack of specified standards, security and privacy considerations, false promises as well as marketing problems. This business report offers a succinct critique of Naylor et al article on the application of lean and agile (leagile) supply chain management. Additionally, the paper discusses how RFID and other modern supply chain technologies such as e-commerce, CPER and VMI can be used to mitigate against the bull-whip effect in supply chain performance. Critique / Literature Review Perhaps, it is pertinent to begin this literature review and critique by defining each of the supply chain paradigms. Although Naylor et al (1999) attempts to define agility simply as supply chain management processes that enhance effectiveness and performance in organizations, it is vital to emphasize that business enterprises that pursue this kind of supply have much more to encounter and implement.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The Flexible Manufacturing Systems (FMS) is indeed the origin of this concept. Sometimes back, manufacturing flexibility was thought to be only possible through automation. This idea did not last for long since it was later extended to incorporate other important factors in business that wou ld influence rapid changes through product mix or volume. Hence, the concept of agility in supply chain management has taken a sharp turn especially in regard to its composition and functionality. Hence, Naylor et al (1999) ought to have incorporated all the supply chain elements that affect the agile paradigm. While the authors have thinly differentiated agility and leanness in supply chain management, the two paradigms have a visible difference both in terms of application and effect in supply chain management. When referring to leanness, a supply chain management focuses more to do with producing more using fewer resources. In fact, Naylor et al (1999) reiterate that the â€Å"just-in-time† approach or zero inventories is usually associated with leanness especially in manufacturing. Although the latter terms are precise to use, a more relevant philosophy to use is Minimum Reasonable Inventory (MRI) since it is rather practical bearing in mind that â€Å"leanness† re fers to the most minimal use of available resources to produce more. On the other hand, it is quite impossible to separate the two paradigms, not to mention the fact that the agile supply chain is very common in business enterprises that have adopted lean manufacturing. This is paradoxical having highlighted the outstanding difference between the two supply chain tools. The point at which lean manufacturing starts can be practically traced by the Toyota Production System (TPS). (Heinrich, 2005). This company largely targeted at eliminating and reducing waste in its manufacturing portfolio as one way of boosting production and hence manufacturing in its manufacturing portfolio.  It is highly likely that the article by Naylor et al (1999) has laid much emphasis on the positive returns of lean thinking to factory production. In any case, it is worth to note that manufacturing practices among several business organizations across the globe have been improved due to the lessons gained from TPS guidelines. Thus, restricting the benefits to factories per se may be myopic, so to speak. In connection to this, it is possible to encounter a situation whereby less working hours is spent against higher output in the production and supply of vehicles in a factory whereas the stock of finished vehicles may take up until three months to clear in terms of sale. Again, this is another paradox in the supply chain management when deliberating on both lean and agile paradigms at the same time. Therefore, leanness, as much as it is unique from agility, can still be integrated in a scenario whereby an organization wants to attain both efficiency and effectiveness simultaneously.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Supply Chain Management and Modern Technologies specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The strategy used in supply chin and of course manufacturing should be that which fall between market winners and market qualifiers (Heinrich, 2005). The two concepts are well covered by Naylor et al (1999). In other descriptions, the two parameters have also been highlighted as order qualifiers and order winners. In retrospect, any organization entering a manufacturing field should deliberate on the requisite baselines to compete favourable in an open market economy as it is the case with the current effect brought about by globalization. These prior considerations are referred to as order qualifiers. On the other hand, gaining market strength and equitable share of the market demands certain unique flexibilities also referred to as order winners. Supposedly, the most appropriate manufacturing strategy can only be met when both the order winners and order qualifiers is brought into light. Unfortunately, Naylor et al (1999) does not explicitly underscore the two concepts that would prepare a ground for vibrant supply chain management. In real sense, companies do not compete; rather, it is the supply c hains. Thus, it is quite tricky to elude the connection between agile and lean as well as winners and qualifiers. In a more simplistic term, the lean supply chain will carry the day if the element of cost is factored in the process. However, service value coupled with customer satisfaction is of critical importance when discussing agile paradigm. At this point, there is a lot of concurrence with the article by Naylor et al (1999).  In appendix I, the two paradigms have been illustrated in terms of their terse differences. Such a â€Å"compare and approach† approach is necessary in creating a clear cut difference as well as similarity between the supply chain paradigms (see appendix II). Product quality level is an equal requirement in both lean and agile supply chain contrary to what Naylor et al (1999) propose. Whilst leanness is overly concerned with reducing or alleviating the level of waste in course of supply, the quality of either goods or services produced cannot be compromised. This also applies to lead-times especially between the times when a client places an order and when the delivery is finally effected. Agility too, demands that the total lead time be lowered to what may be referred to as the â€Å"irreducible minimum†. The only challenge when this requirement has to be applied in an agile supply chain is the difficulty in forecasting and the high level of volatile associated with predicting the total lead-time. Naylor et al (1999) also confirm that marketplace demand will be cumbersome to exploit if the end-to-end lead-time is extremely long and possibly wasteful in the supply process. The vertical distribution channel has been the supply chain art of Dell for long. It solely distributes its products. Through the use of internet or telephone, customers are able to start off the process of buying. Three modes of selling are applicable at Dell namely keyboard-to-server, ear-to-ear and face-to-face (Dell Fedman, 1999).Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The lead-time is usually specified by the company representative although in practice, it takes a much shorter time to deliver the product than earlier specified in the inquiry. Computers at Dell are built according to customer’s specifications.  In order to satisfy the orders placed by customers, the company makes use of an agile supply chain paradigm. Additionally, the inventory is not finished while the entire business platform takes the form of a direct model. The component inventory is also kept to the lowest level possible as one way of beating the competition in terms of prices. Indeed, this is a clear cut example on how both the lean and agile supply chains can be incorporated in an organization in order to simultaneously boost efficiency and effectiveness. The lean approach at Dell is also evident when the company applies vertical integration in its supply chain management (Heinrich, 2005). Subsequently, the company has facilitated cost reduction as a way of reduci ng wastes. For instance, an agile supplier has been mandated to build relatively standard monitors. As such, the company may require as much as 9,547 pieces of monitors today from its agile supplier while in few days time, demand as low as 760. RFID for Supply Chain Performance Improvements Evolution, both socially and economically, is a daily experience that is encountered both at the individual and societal level. One of the visible fronts in evolution is the advances made in technology and especially in supply chain management. Technological sophistication has continually improved consumer experience not to mention the mammoth benefits to suppliers and manufacturers. In particular, the use of the Radio Frequency Identification Devices (RFID) has created real world awareness in the managing supply chain. This technology is used to track down the design or unique product characteristics right from the point of production throughout the supply chain. Additionally, RFID is capable of either actively or passively transmitting the product information regardless of space and time. Indeed, the technology has been used to minimize theft of goods alongside avoiding improper shipment sizes. By using RFID technology, it is possible to ensure that the products will arrive at their point of destination with minimum hitch in addition to giving a better forecast especially of the delivery time to consumers. An organization can also use this device for impose restrictions to entering certain points within a building. It can also be useful in assessing the exit and entry times for employees.  Modern business indeed requires the implementation of RFID technology and especially in regard to improving product awareness throughout the supply chain management. When variability in the demand order are overly increased or amplified as they progress through the chain of supply, it results into the bullwhip effect (Heinrich, 2005). In actual practice, the bullwhip effect is common when vital information is distorted as the supply chain is distorted. Worse still, such distortion is also a major cause of supply chain inefficiencies and failure experienced in some establishments. When companies thoroughly evaluate, assess and comprehend the latent causes of bullwhip effect, they can effectively counteract this scenario. To this end, can RFID technologies assist in reducing the bullwhip effect in any way? Currently, industry leaders are in the forefront of implementing strategies that are innovative in nature such as the use of RFID tracking tool to facilitate smooth and unrestricted flow of information. This has been covered under the integration of new information systems (Heinrich, 2005). Moreover, new measurement and incentive systems in addition to giving a better definition to organizational relationship have been applied to counter the bullwhip effect.  In respect to new information systems, RFID has played an integral role in supply chain management. Th e RFID passive tags contain vital information of the product. As part and parcel of reducing the bullwhip effect in its supply chain, Dell Inc. has embraced the use of RFID technology. Today, the company stands out as one of the well established computer and electronics manufacturer worldwide (Dell Fedman, 1999). The six manufacturing plants of the company employ over 50,000 employees spread across different locations in the world. As already mentioned, the company makes use of the idea on supply and demand depending on the orders placed by customers to drive sales. As the chairman and founder of Dell, Michael Dell confessed, the ability to obtain real-time data courtesy of RFID technology has indeed improved the working efficiency of the company in addition to boosting revenue growth of the company (Heinrich, 2005). Currently, the company is fast on plans to decommission the old techniques that have been used in its supply chain for long and embrace better RFID technologies that h ave proved to be both effective and efficient in manufacturing and service delivery portfolios. In practice, the RFID technology being used at Dell has enabled customers to keep a close vigil of their purchases and how everything is progress from the assembly time, shipment and eventually to delivery. In all of these processes, human beings are minimally involved thereby reducing the possible additional workforce that the company would require as part of customer support.  Realistically speaking, such an arrangement would significantly reduce or even completely eliminate the bullwhip effect. Furthermore, congestion in warehouses has been a thing of the past bearing in mind that Dell has fully engaged itself in the manufacture of most computer hardware and software being sold. The real world awareness created by RFID technology has greatly improved the supply chain management logistics leading to extreme success of the company.  The United States Department of Defence is also kee n in the implementation of RFID technologies especially in the handing and tracking down of its ammunitions, weapons and military rations. The department has realized that less time is spent when RFID is used as compared to the ordinary means of inventory processing. The maintenance of material, asset visibility, items management as well as improvement in data quality has been necessitated with the use of the RFID technology. Using RFID to Complement Existing Technologies Concepts There are quite a number of supply chain technologies. However, the use of RFID can indeed boost the viability of other technologies and concepts being used in supply chain management. For instance, supply chain management is currently employing E-commerce, Decentralized Software Service Protocol (DSSP), Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), internet, Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) and Customer Premise Equipment (CPE). The lean and agile paradigms in supply chain are also important parameters when integratin g RFID technology since the latter is one of the success factors in supply chain IT. For example, the process of gathering information from the manufacturing to the delivery point requires a more real time data analysis and transmission (Attaran, 2007). This is in effect similar to the case scenario on how E-commerce is carried out at Dell inc. the use of RFID at this point is vital since all the parties engage in the transaction will be visible enough in the entire supply chain process. Additionally, RFID will improve E-commerce undertakings in the sense that it will be possible to expedite the assessment of orders by retailers as well as monitor possible delays.  Secondly, E-commerce that has integrated the use of RFID technologies will be able to put in place a standardization process that will be able to identify products across various industries and companies. A single contact point can be used to access data in the system since there is need for uniformity of the much neede d information by consumers. When old forms of technologies such as telephones are used, there can be slight differences in the information passed verbally and the actual specifications of the product being purchased. A robust RFID structure in internet use will also facilitate quick analysis of system data as well as improve planning that is needed in strategic decision making. Of utmost importance here is the Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) whereby business processes can be integrated real time (Attaran, 2007).  In terms of lean and agile supply chain tools, a collaborative approach between companies and supplies has been found to highly beneficial and that companies that exercise this approach usually outperform their competitors. In order to boost profitability and innovation as well as maintain a high quality supply chain in the procurement and sourcing processes, the adoption and full implementation of RFID technologies alongs ide other supply chain management tools such as Customer Premise Equipment (CPE) and Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) cannot be ignored or underestimated. A Supplier Relationship Management System (SRM) when well utilized alongside RFID will enable the smooth process of tracking down spending analysis by suppliers on a global basis. This can be implemented across different product categories. Moreover, SRM will permit comparison of supplier metrics and benchmarks. In other words, it will be possible for the manufacturer to outsource the most viable supplier through real time record. In the case of lean supply chain, the lead-time compression will be monitored with ease so long as the RFID technological platform has been fully integrated in the business cycle. Contract Management (CM) when used together with RFID technology will enhance the sharing of vital information among suppliers alongside enabling the establishment of web-based procurement process that are fast and convenient to the users. Contact Management will also permit the continual monitoring of supply chain and most importantly ensuring that the performance of suppliers is up to date and according to the earlier proposed agreements. Spend Management software such as Ariba, Statistical Analysis System (SAS) and Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) to catch up with the implementation of RFID by most vendors in the supply chain. A case example is that of Xerox. The company ha s already installed and using the internet procurement system. The new system is intended to cut down on unnecessary costs associated with non-productive purchasing. Sincerely speaking, this is one way through which Xerox Corporation will be practicing lean manufacturing and hence lean supply chain paradigm (Heinrich, 2005). The net effect will be transformation of the supply chain system of the company from the one that is geared towards waste elimination to one that is consistent with an agile approach whereby efficiency will be improved significantly. In the long run, Xerox Corporation anticipates lowering down its expenditure on goods and services that have been deemed as less productive in the manufacturing and supply chain paradigm (Heinrich, 2005). The integration of SCM and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems alongside with RFID technology is also a vita practice in supply chain management since the latter may not be very fruitful its functionality is supported by other integral systems. Both the SCM and ERP play pertinent roles in shaping a vibrant supply chain. The main reason why the two tools were developed was to standardize and optimize internal SC processes (Attaran, 2007). This standardization mainly targeted the following supply chain domains namely distribution, production, procurement and finance. While the initial generation systems were largely sole-based and lacked a collaborative approach, the modern systems being used in supply chain management are open and component based as we ll as web enabled. As critical example is the application of modern ERP systems together with RFID technologies. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) has the potential of ensuring that data is centrally managed while at the same time facilitating the mobility of information from one point to another. This feature has enhanced consistency and visibility of data since it readily provides all information regarding customers, production needs, inventory, purchases as well as sales (Attaran, 2007). Conclusions In summing up, it is imperative to note that the lean paradigm demands the elimination of the unnecessary inputs that may not be directly proportional to the process of production. On the other hand, there is need to maintain a nimble approach to the agile paradigm. This is vital in supply chain management of this nature bearing in mind that the loss in sales can never be recovered. One outstanding difference between the two paradigms is that while level scheduling is more valued in lean supply, the reservation of capacity to be able to deal with unpredictable demand is a functionality of the agile paradigm. On the same note, it is worth to note that most supply chains are cyclic in nature and therefore prompting the concepts of market qualifiers and market winners. The two paradigms, though completely differentiated from each other, cannot be discussed in total isolation since companies which pursue lean approach in their supply chains still struggle to move towards an agile system while those undertaking the latter still require to minimize wastes in order to boost profitability and growth in revenue. Finally, the pursuit towards improving the management of supply chains has witnessed the adoption and implementation of RFID technology in tracking down supplies from the point of production to delivery to customers. Other supportive tools such as the internet, e-commerce, Decision Support Systems (DSS), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Electronic Data Interc hange (EDI) and Customer Premise Equipment (CPE) have been integrated in the contemporary supply chain management. References Attaran, M. 2007. RFID: an enabler of supply chain operations. Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, 12(4): 249–257. Dell, M. Fedman, C.1999. Direct from Dell: Strategies that Revolutionised an Industry, London: Harper Collins. Heinrich, C.E. 2005. RFID and Beyond. Indianapolis: Wiley Sons. Naylor et al. 1999. Leagility: Integrating the lean and agile manufacturing paradigms in the total supply chain. International Journal of Production Economics, 62: 107- 118. Appendices An Agile versus lean supply chains for market qualifiers An agile supply chain based on information This report on Supply Chain Management and Modern Technologies was written and submitted by user Jaxon E. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Internet Essay Example

Internet Essay Example Internet Essay Internet Essay When you use the Internet to copy and share songs, movies and other content you might be violating copyright laws. Movie companies are losing out millions per year to online copyright pirates (Harrington, 1999). The producers and artists lose money in the process and it even affects the consumers for the costs of making movies and music are increased to cover the losses from copyright pirates. The Internet negatively contributes to copyright infringements. Copyright protects original literary, musical and artistic works and gives exclusive rights to the author(s) to publish, produce, sell and distribute it (Field, 2004). Therefore, copyright infringements occur when an individual engages in any of the exclusive rights of the author without the author’s consent (Harrington, 1999). The Internet has contributed to the rampant copyright infringement. There are numerous sites that offer free downloads of songs and movies, peer to peer sharing softwares abound that make copying and sharing copyrighted materials more accessible (Michel, 2004). The Internet also allows users to anonymously copy and share this materials and since the Internet is very difficult to police, running after violators seem almost impossible.   The open-source community proposes that everything on the Internet should be free, but Walker (2006) says that this is not the case. The Internet has allowed researchers, authors and even artists to reach a wider audience and as a consequence it had also made rampant copying and sharing of copyrighted materials. Just like any technological advancements, the Internet has a positive and negative side. But since piracy and copyright infringements pose serious economic ramifications, the government, the artists and the ISP providers should work together to lessen and control the present situation. References Field, T. Jr. (2004). Copyright on the Internet, Pierce Law, Retrieved June 8, 2006 from piercelaw.edu/tfield/copynet.htm Harrington, M. (1999). On-line copyright infringement liability for Internet Service Providers: Context, cases and recently enacted legislation, B.C. Intell. Prop. Tech. F. 060499 , Retrieved June 8, 2006 from bc.edu/bc_org/avp/law/st_org/iptf/articles/content/1999060401.html Michel, N. (2004). Internet File Sharing: The evidence so far and what it means for the future. The Heritage Foundation , Retrieved June 8, 2006 from heritage.org/Research/InternetandTechnology/bg1790.cfm Walker, J. M. (2006). There is No Open Source Community , ONLamp.com, Retrieved June 8, 2006 from onlamp.com/pub/a/onlamp/2006/01/12/no_oss_community.html

Friday, November 22, 2019

Averse vs. Adverse

Averse vs. Adverse Averse vs. Adverse Averse vs. Adverse By Sharon It is easy to confuse adverse and averse but their meanings are totally different. Adverse means unfavorable, contrary or hostile, and can never be applied to humans. You often hear it used in the term adverse weather conditions, a phrase which is best avoided in favor of bad weather. Averse means unwilling or disinclined or loath and is always followed by the preposition to. It applies to a person and is used like this: He was averse to discussing the conference. Of course, it would be just as easy to say. He didnt want to discuss the conference. Overuse of both averse and adverse is likely to sound pompous. Its always better to keep it simple. The adjective aversion is much more common. Here are some quotations from the press to help you see those words being used it in context: But in fact, adolescents may be more risk-averse than adults, a new study has found. Their willingness to engage in risky behavior may have less to do with thrill-seeking per se than with a higher tolerance for uncertain consequences, researchers reported Monday. LA Times Many merger agreements contain provisions allowing buyers to withdraw from deals if the value of a transaction has been hurt by a significant development. In the case of the Verizon/Yahoo deal, such a change is defined as one that would â€Å"reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, assets, properties, results of operation or financial condition of the Business, taken as a whole.† WSJ Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:50 Redundant Phrases to AvoidThe Letter "Z" Will Be Removed from the English Alphabet1,462 Basic Plot Types

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Value Orientation Style analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Value Orientation Style analysis - Essay Example According to the two anthropologists, understanding the differences in value orientation is critical in corporate management in different locations. In this regard, it would be important to analyze the culture of Russians in the context of Pierre Frankel experience and within the five human concerns. The Russian society believes that human being is evil and as such emphasizes use of code of conduct, punishment and sanctions as behavior control approach. Considering the case study, since the fall of Soviet in 1992, the people of Russia attribute their failures to opening up to the west. In this respect, there has been significant suspicion coupled with bitterness for foreign companies hence difficulty in free interaction with foreign corporate leaders. The cold reception Frankel received from Lebedev and the idea of giving him an office away from Managing director’s office manifests this extent of unease with foreigners. This means that it would be difficult for H-IT to make significant impact with its globally standardized management practices. In the context of activity orientation, Russian society is containing and controlling. It can be noted that despite efforts by Frankel to initiate changes with top leadership and employees in H-IT subsidiary in Russia, there was significant go-slow in response. This is a society where people value control and orderlies with life-society balance. Despite Frankel trying to convince the Russian managers on how to effect productive changes, the employees remained reluctant and pursued local approach hence the observed poor performance of the company. For instance, While Frankel attempts to hire a more competent personnel, Lebedev seeks his own with intention to contain any outside influence from the new employee. The Russian community offer significant opposition to contemporary business demand due to its emphasis on past time orientation. This society clings on the Soviet era culture and

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Selection of a Case study organization (Attempt 1) Assignment

Selection of a Case study organization (Attempt 1) - Assignment Example From the very bottom line costs to the increases in service speed and reliability that deliver greater value to organizations and their customers, innovation actually stands at the epicenter of the strategic approaches adopted towards success in the 21st century. Bolstered by the rapid changes in the market structure that powers competition from almost every corner of the globe, organizational emphasis on external as well as internal collaboration as a gateway in accessing the right mechanisms of expediting the incorporation of new ideas is fundamental in leveling the playing field with larger competitors and the numerous aggressive startups. Amway, a direct-selling, family-run organization headquartered in Ada, Michigan, is a perfect sample organization that has grown from a lean structure to operationalize its services in 100 countries courtesy of the numerous radical shifts of strategy that brings on board â€Å"consumer needs, technology and business value† in their search for competitive advantage over the years since inception. A multi-level marketing company with over five decades in business, Amway has built numerous brands within its core product categories [nutrition, beauty, and home], managing to increase its annual revenues from a modest base to a whopping $11.3 billion in the financial year 2012 (APQC, 2013). At the heart of the company’s growth momentum is an innovation culture summarized as 5x5s; a â€Å"five minutes—five slide† presentation for all to showcase ideas for evaluation and further pursuit. Using an Open Innovation Business Model that majorly sources ideas from the external networks, Amway wields a great deal of freedom in pursuing powerful innovations that only serve to propel its strategic needs. The organization long recognized that it does not command as much resources as its forerunner-competitors in the industry, and thus devoted its

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Compare how poets portray relationships in ‘Praise Song For My Mother’ and ‘Ghazal’ Essay Example for Free

Compare how poets portray relationships in ‘Praise Song For My Mother’ and ‘Ghazal’ Essay Both ‘praise song for my mother’ and ‘ghazal’ use language devices to portray relationships. They use imagery, metaphors and structure to do so. They bother portray in different ways. ‘praise song for my mother’ portrays relationships as happy and fun whereas ‘ghazal’ portrays them as unpredictable and ever changing. In ‘ghazal’, Khalvati writes a different comparison to love in each stanza. ‘If yours is the iron fist in the velvet glove/if I rise in the east you die in the west’. The fact that Khalvati has done this shows that love is never the same. It also shows that it is constantly changing and can never be predicted. It could also show that the woman’s love for the man is constant the mans love for the woman is unreliable and is constantly changing. On the other hand, in ‘praise song for my mother’ each stanza seems the convey the same thing about love, that it is happy and constant. ‘you were sunrise to me rise and warm and streaming’. The word ‘sunrise’ means that the personas lover was what lit up their day and helped them see clearly. It could also mean that their love was constant and never failed as the sun rises every morning in a continuous pattern. The word ‘warm’ has also been used and this could suggest that they are always nice to each other and never argue. Heat can also be linked to the colour red and this in turn can be linked to love, therefore the persona is indirectly expressing their love for this person without facing it head on. In ‘praise song for my mother’ Nichols has used imagery to portray the relationship. ‘you were the fishes red gill to me’. Nichols has used the word ‘gill’ to show that the persona needed the other person. A fish wouldn’t be able to survive without its gills and this shows that the persona might as well be dead without the other person. Everyone would be able to relate to this as everyone has suffered heartbreak. This would help to keep the interested and mean that they can empathise with the reader. The  word ‘red’ has also been used and love is a connotation of the colour red. On the other hand red can be linked to death and this links back to the persona saying that they are dead without the other person. Similarly in ‘ghazal’ Khalvati has also used imagery to show the relationship. ‘when the arrow flies, the heart is pierced, tattoo me’. The use of the word ‘tattoo’ is the persona saying that their love for the other person is eternal and they never want it to end. Tattoos cannot be changed once they are on your skin and Khalvati’s use of the word could mean that they don’t want the other person to change as she thinks they are perfect as they are. Khalvati’s comparison to an arrow means that her love for the other person was sudden and unexpected. She didn’t know it was coming until it struck her. In conclusion I think that both these poems use mostly the same language devices, but where Nichols portrays relationships as a good thing, Khalvati seems to portray them as a bad thing.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

AIDS :: Free AIDS Essays

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome, or AIDS, is a currently recognized disease. It is caused by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which attacks selected cells in the immune system and causes them to function defectively. These deficiencies may not be apparent for years. They lead to the suppression of the immune system's ability to combat harmful organisms. This leaves the body open to invasion by various infections, which are called opportunistic diseases, and to the development of unusual cancers. The virus also affects certain brain cells. This leads to so-called neuropsychiatric abnormalities, or psychological disturbances caused by physical damage to the nerve cells. The first AIDS cases were reported in 1981 through 1996 more than 510,000 AIDS cases and more than 315,000 deaths have been reported in the United States alone.(Grolier). This is only the beginning of the HIV infection. It is estimated that nearly 1 million Americans had been infected with the virus through the mid-1990s but had not yet developed clinical symptoms (Grolier). In addition, AIDS cases have also been reported in almost every country in the world, with an estimated cumulative 19 million adults and children infected worldwide since the late 1970s.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  No cure or vaccine has been invented to cure AIDS. Many of those infected with HIV may not even be aware that they carry and can spread the virus. Scientists and doctors are constantly challenged by it. HIV infection and AIDS are one of the most intense public-health problems in the world. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has established criteria for defining cases of AIDS that are based on laboratory evidence such as T4 cell count, the presence of certain opportunistic diseases, and a range of other conditions (Grolier). The opportunistic diseases are often the most outstanding and life-threatening. It is now acknowledged that neuropsychiatric conditions of the brain caused by the HIV infection are also common. Other conditions caused by the HIV infection include fever, diarrhea, severe weight loss, and swollen lymph nodes. When HIV-infected persons experience some of the above symptoms but do not meet full criteria for AIDS, they are given the diagnosis of AIDS-related complex, or ARC. The growing feeling is that ARC and HIV infection without symptoms should be viewed as stages of progression toward getting full-blown AIDS. Because there is no effective vaccine or therapy, education and risk reduction are the best way to combat the epidemic.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Physical Anthropology: Homo Erectus

1. Introduction/General Information a. A Dutch anatomist named Eugene Dubois is responsible for the discovery of Homo erectus. b. Fossils and remains were found in 1891 on the island of Java. c. Homo erectus is an extinct hominid that lived between 1.6 million and 250,000 years ago. d. Homo erectus is thought to have evolved in Africa from another human ancestor known as Homo habilis–which happens to be the first member of the genus Homo. e. Homo erectus dispersed into Asia more than 1.3 million years ago and then into Europe about 400,000 years ago. 2. Physical Description (What did they look like?) a. Anatomically and physiologically, Homo erectus is similar to modern humans except for a slightly heavier bone structure. b. The size of its braincase is not that different from Homo sapiens, however the cranial bones are much bigger than that of either Homo habilis or modern humans. c. There was a progressive reduction in sexual dimorphism, until there was a similar ration between the two sexes. d. Proportions of the limbs to the body are much more like those of modern humans. Arms are not long and ape-like in relation to the Homo habilis. 3. Diet & Technology a. The adapted technological uses of Homo erectus was said to be significantly more complex than that of its predecessors. b. They made use of stone tools, other varieties of tools created from wood, and fire. c. Interestingly, they created and seasonally resided in oval-shaped huts. d. Homo erectus populations used these huts while also living a life that consisted of surviving based on a combination of intense hunting and the gathering of shellfish and plant foods e. With intense competition for food against large predators, in an environment subject to frequent changes, theoretically caused certain Homo erectus subsets to invent new tools etc. f. As for most hunter gatherers, their diet would have consisted of red meat, occasional shellfish, roots, leaves, nuts, berries, wild grasses, honey and bird's eggs. 4. Behaviors/Social Interactions a. Some researchers considered the social aspects of the species closer to those of modern man than the groups who came before it. b. Members of the Homo erectus species might have communicated with a sort of â€Å"pre-language†. c. Some African sites had remains that showed evidence that despite the human-like anatomy of the species; members were physically incapable of making sounds associated with modern language. 5. Conclusion a. A brief summary of the characteristics and lifestyle of the once existent Homo erectus

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Quality Measure

In order to initiate the Frequent Shopper Program three important steps must be taken. Quality assurance process and procedures to ensure the functionality and performance requirements are met second, testing procedures to ensure the application is operational at all levels this includes programming networking, systems and interfaces third, implementation steps and procedures necessary to achieve operational status.This paper is to maintain and produce a product that is high level quality which will be a critical factor in the production of a successful software system and will remain so during the entire project. Software Development Life Cycle comprises Software Requirement Analysis, System Analysis and Design, Code Generation, Testing, Maintenance and Quality Assurance. Our Quality Assurance process is a part of Software Development Life Cycle. (Rainbow, 2008) (Rainbow, 2008) Quality assurance is not a one man job it takes a team to make sure everything is done correctly.An organi zational structure of the quality team will be developed. Once a team has been created policies will be designed in order to provide structure where positions, roles, responsibility will be created in order for a positive operation and organization. This will establish a chain of command in order to make the objective affective. Effective method for monitoring quality assurance because it analyzes existing conditions and methods used to provide the product or service customers. The goal is to ensure that excellence is inherent in every component of the process.Quality assurance also helps determine whether the steps used to provide the product or services are appropriate for the time and conditions. (Wise Geek, 2011) Second will be defining a quality assurance process, the quality assurance manager (Todd Albright) for Kudler Frequent Shopper Program will be responsible for overseeing all three Kudler Locations and each QA member will be assigned to a specific location and the QA tas ks and will be referred to as external while the individual quality of work will be known as external.The external quality assurance tasks will include the following; maintaining the QA documents, ensures verification occurs and is logged, preparation for attendance of all inspections, inspect any audits, post unit testing, the development team is provided input from the activities of the QA, and the software engineering team are assigned any defects repair. The external team will be responsible for their individual work and maintaining their own databases and unit testing including metrics. Metrics are numerical measures that quantify the degree to which software or a process possesses a given attribute.Examples of metrics are ‘‘defects per thousand lines of code’’ and ‘‘average software module size. ’’ Metrics are collected and analyzed throughout the software life cycle, and help with the following: Determining software quality level Estimating project schedules Tracking schedule progress Determining software size and complexity (University of Phoenix 2010) Documentation will also be produced during the project this will consist of any software design documents, test documents, verification and validation plans and software configuration plans.Todd Albright who has been assigned as the QA manger will overlook the QA organization team members and will be able to approve any quality assurance function performed. Todd Albright will also ensure that coding standards will meet guidelines which will be no more than 2 defects per every 1000 lines and to ensure meetings, audits, reviews will be conducted twice a month to ensure the quality of the software. In addition to provide quality processes the QA teams will provide independent testing while educating the engineers for internal quality and will work closely with the project managers to ensure a successful development.The final goal for quality assurance will be to have no critical or any serious defects, the design will have no more than one defect a diagram, the code will consists of less than two defects per 1000 lines of non commented coding. To ensure the software is working four different types of testing will be done; unit testing, integration testing, system testing and use integration testing. Unit testing will be conducted by the programmers who developed the code of the program making sure there are no errors this will help determine to see if the software is doing what is meant for.Unit testing provides some undeniable advantages. It allows for automation of the testing process, reduces difficulties of discovering errors contained in more complex pieces of the application, and test coverage is often enhanced because attention is given to each unit. (MSDN, 2011) The next step in testing the Frequent Shopper program is the integration testing, this will test two different units that have already passed the unit testing to see if they will work together. The approach that will be used will be the top-down approach which requires the highest level modules be tested first.This will ensure a high data flow and be tested early in the process rigorously this way it meets the quality standards.. The third step that will be conducted is the system test which will be conducted by the testing team it will cover any cases and scenarios, the technical requirements, specifications and making sure it meets the business and functional requirements. System Testing is a crucial step in Quality Management Process. * In the Software Development Life cycle System Testing is the first level where The System is tested as a whole The System is tested to verify if it meets the functional and technical requirements *The application/System is tested in an environment that closely resembles the production environment where the application will be finally deployed *The System Testing enables us to test, verify and validate both the Business requirements as well as the Application Architecture (Exforsys Inc, 2011) Once final testing has started the final stage can be conducted which is implementing the project into plan.The maintenance team will correct any errors during the implementation phase and provide user end support if needed during the implantation phase, the program will be reviewed by the QA manager making sure all the objectives for the project plan have been implemented, and are running as they should be.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Overview of the Law of the Primate City

Overview of the Law of the Primate City Geographer Mark Jefferson developed the law of the primate cit  to explain the phenomenon of huge cities that capture such a large proportion of a countrys population as well as its economic activity. These primate cities are often, but not always, the capital cities of a country. An excellent example of a primate city is Paris, which truly represents and serves as the focus of France. A countrys leading city is always disproportionately large and exceptionally expressive of national capacity and feeling. The primate city is commonly at least twice as large as the next largest city and more than twice as significant. - Mark Jefferson, 1939​   Characteristics of Primary Cities They dominate the country in influence and are the national focal point.  Their sheer size and activity become a strong pull factor, bringing additional residents to the city and causing the primate city to become even larger and more disproportional to smaller cities in the country. However, not every country has a primate city, as youll see from the list below. Some scholars define a primate city as one that is larger than the combined populations of the second and third ranked cities in a country. This definition does not represent true primacy, however, as the size of the first ranked city is not disproportionate to the second. The law can be applied to smaller regions as well. For example, Californias primate city is Los Angeles, with a metropolitan area population of 16 million, which is more than double the San Francisco metropolitan area of 7 million. Even counties can be examined with regard to the Law of the Primate City. Examples of Countries With Primate Cities Paris (9.6 million) is definitely the focus of France while Marseilles has a population of 1.3 million.Similarly, the United Kingdom has London as its primate city (7 million) while the second largest city, Birmingham, is home to a mere one million people.Mexico City, Mexico (8.6 million) outshines Guadalajara (1.6 million).A huge dichotomy exists between Bangkok (7.5 million) and Thailands second city, Nanthaburi (481,000). Examples of Countries That Lack Primate Cities Indias most populous city is Mumbai (formerly Bombay) with 16 million; second is Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) with more than 13 million.China, Canada, Australia, and Brazil are additional examples of non-primate-city countries.Utilizing the metropolitan area population of urban areas in the United States, we find that the U.S. lacks a true primate city. With the New York City metropolitan area population at approximately 21 million, second-ranked Los Angeles at 16 million, and even third-ranked Chicago at 9 million, America lacks a primate city. Rank-Size Rule In 1949, George Zipf devised his theory of rank-size rule to explain the size cities in a country. He explained that the second and subsequently smaller cities should represent a proportion of the largest city. For example, if the largest city in a country contained one million citizens, Zipf stated that the second city would contain one-half as many as the first, or 500,000. The third would contain one-third or 333,333, the fourth would be home to one-quarter or 250,000, and so on, with the rank of the city representing the denominator in the fraction. While some countries urban hierarchy somewhat fits into Zipfs scheme, later geographers argued that his model should be seen as a probability model and that deviations are to be expected.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

The Role of the Plaza in Maya Festivals

The Role of the Plaza in Maya Festivals Like many pre-modern societies, the Classic period Maya (AD 250-900 AD) used ritual and ceremony performed by the rulers or elites to appease gods, repeat historical events, and prepare for the future. But not all ceremonies were secret rituals; in fact, many were public rituals, theatrical performances and dances played in public arenas to unite communities and express political power relationships. Recent investigations of public ceremonialism by University of Arizona archaeologist Takeshi Inomata reveal the importance of these public rituals, both in the architectural changes made in the Maya cities to accommodate the performances  and in the political structure which developed alongside the festival calendar. Mayan Civilization The Maya is a name given to a group of loosely associated but generally autonomous city-states, each led by a divine ruler. These small states were spread throughout the Yucatn peninsula, along the gulf coast, and into the highlands of Guatemala, Belize, and Honduras. Like small city centers anywhere, the Maya centers were supported by a network of farmers who lived outside the cities but were held by allegiances to the centers. At sites such as Calakmul, Copn, Bonampak, Uaxactun, Chichen Itza, Uxmal, Caracol, Tikal, and Aguateca, festivals took place within the public view, bringing together the city residents and the farmers and reinforcing those allegiances. Festivals of the Maya Many of the Mayan festivals continued to be held into the Spanish colonial period, and some of the Spanish chroniclers such as Bishop Landa described festivals well into the 16th century. Three types of performances are cited in the Maya language: dance (okot), theatrical presentations (baldzamil) and illusionism (ezyah). Dances followed a calendar  and ranged from performances with humor and tricks to dances in preparation for war and dances mimicking (and sometimes including) sacrificial events. During the colonial period, thousands of people came from all around northern Yucatn to see and participate in the dances. Music was provided by rattles; small bells of copper, gold and clay; tinklers of shell or small stones. A vertical drum called the pax or zacatan was made of a hollowed tree trunk and covered with an animal skin; another u- or h-shaped drum was called the tunkul. Trumpets of wood, gourd, or conch shell, and clay flutes, reed pipes and whistles were also used. Elaborate costumes were part of the dances as well. Shell, feathers, backracks, headdresses, body plates transformed the dancers into historical figures, animals, and gods or other-worldly creatures. Some dances lasted all day, with food and drink brought to the participants who kept dancing. Historically, preparations for such dances were substantial, some rehearsal periods lasting for two or three months, organized by an officer known as a holpop. The holpop was a community leader, who set the key for the music, taught others and played an important role in festivals throughout the year. Audiences at Mayan Festivals In addition to Colonial period reports, murals, codices, and vases illustrating royal visits, court banquets, and preparations for dances have been the focus for archaeologists to understand the public ritual which predominated the classic period Maya. But in recent years, Takeshi Inomata has turned the study of ceremonialism at Maya centers on its head-considering not the performers or the performance but rather the audience for the theatrical productions. Where did these performances take place, what architectural properties were constructed to accommodate the audiences, what was the meaning of the performance for the audience? Inomatas study involves a closer look at a somewhat less-considered piece of monumental architecture at classic Maya sites: the plaza. Plazas are big open spaces, surrounded by temples or other important buildings, framed by steps, entered via causeways and elaborate doorways. Plazas in Maya sites have thrones and special platforms where performers acted, and stelae-rectangular stone statues such as those at Copn-representing past ceremonial activity are also found there. Plazas and Spectacles Plazas at Uxmal and Chichà ©n Itz include low square platforms; evidence has been found in the Great Plaza at Tikal for the construction of temporary scaffoldings. Lintels at Tikal illustrate rulers and other elites being carried on a palanquina platform on which a ruler sat on a throne and was carried by bearers. Wide stairways at plazas were used as stages for the presentations and dances. The plazas held thousands of people; Inomata reckons that for the smaller communities, nearly the entire population could be present at once in the central plaza. But at sites such as Tikal and Caracol, where over 50,000 people lived, the central plazas could not hold so many people. The history of these cities as traced by Inomata suggests that as the cities grew, their rulers made accommodations for the growing populations, tearing down buildings, commissioning new structures, adding causeways and building plazas exterior to the central city. These embellishments indicate what a crucial part performance for the audience was for the loosely structured Maya communities. While carnivals and festivals are known today throughout the world, their importance in defining the character and community of governmental centers is less considered. As the focal point for gathering people together, to celebrate, prepare for war, or watch sacrifices, the Maya spectacle created a cohesion that was necessary for the ruler and common people alike. Sources To get a look at what Inomata is talking about, Ive assembled a photo essay called Spectacles and Spectators: Maya Festivals and Maya Plazas, which illustrates some of the public spaces created by the Maya for this purpose. Dilberos, Sophia Pincemin. 2001. Music, dance, theater, and poetry. pp 504-508 in Archaeology of Ancient Mexico and Central America, S.T. Evans and D.L. Webster, eds. Garland Publishing, Inc., New York. Inomata, Takeshi. 2006. Politics and theatricality in Mayan society. Pp 187-221 in Archaeology of Performance: Theaters of Power, Community and Politics, T. Inomata and L.S. Coben, eds. Altamira Press, Walnut Creek, California. Inomata, Takeshi. 2006. Plazas, performers and spectators: Political theaters of the Classic Maya. Current Anthropology 47(5):805-842

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Personal Internship Journal Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Internship Journal - Personal Statement Example Credit that would be awarded to me after the successful completion of my duties for the internship and whatever report that would come back to the leaders of my program from my Supervisor at the condominium. My expectations were to learn about the administrative and managerial skills that come with working in the real estate industry. I hoped to gain some knowledge of daily operations of the building system, property management, as well as the implementation of the budget. I also hoped to improve my communication skills with coworkers in different levels. In addition, I hoped to be able to adapt myself to a multicultural environment. This would have been the first experience for me to be fully involved with not just the language, but also the English culture outside of my personal home. While it was my hope to improve my skills in English and understand the multicultural aspects of the business world, I chose to have my internship be at a site that would offer a vastly different level of learning that had been different in comparison to anything I had ever done before. Answer: Answer: I work for xxxx. My position is to be an assistant to operations manager. Most of my job duties are clerical. My expectations are to learn about administrative and managerial skills that come with working in the real estate industry. I hope I can gain some knowledge of the daily operations of the building system, property management, and budget implementation. Also, I hope to improve my communication skills with coworkers in different levels. In addition, I hope I can adapt myself to a multicultural environment. This is the first time with the culture and language directly in English outside of school ad home. While it can be quite an experience to be in a different environment than one I had been personally used to, it was my desire to step outside of my personal boundaries and experiences things which, had it not been for choosing an internship, I would not have known or experienced before. By deciding to pursue my education, I wanted to have the opportunity to learn as much as I can about as many things as I can. To be exposed to a wide variety of events that can be a great learning experience in their own right. Week Two: How is it working with your co-workers Did you have all the skills you needed when you arrived day one.. or are there skills you still need to learn to succeed in your position Answer: All of the co- workers are very helpful and knowledgeable of their job duties. I have the skills to do this job. On the first day of work, I have assisted my manager on writing leasing contracts and making spreadsheets of monthly bills. I also handled calls regarding maintenance and building improvement. My duties are not very challenging because I have done this type of work in my previous job. However, I still have skills which I need to improve on, such as my communication skill in English language. Another skill I feel I need to improve on is to deal with multi-cultural environment. This is the first

Thursday, October 31, 2019

The book Common Sense by Thomas Paine Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 3

The book Common Sense by Thomas Paine - Essay Example The author is completely against the rule of royals, and believed that in the earlier times there were no kings, and, for the very same reason, there was peace and tranquility among men. But this is not applicable in all ages, as once people get civilized, the question comes about authority and power. The able and the fittest among people urge for superiority and have a want and desire to rule the inferior ones. â€Å"Government by kings was first introduced into the world by the Heathens, from whom the children of Israel copied the custom. It was the most prosperous invention the Devil ever set on foot for the promotion of idolatry†(Paine). So Paine intends to point out that once the government got introduced to the human history, there was a scene of suppression of right and values of the laymen. Pain was of the opinion that, a government or monarchy should not aim at ruling a country or society, but should focus on giving opportunity and space to personal development and gr owth and complete happiness and prosperity of public. Actually, he is completely right on this part, as government should be by the people, for the people, and of the people. A full full-fledged republican outlook, wherein all the common men get what they want in the right proportion is the right thing to be done for the welfare of the common men. Paine writes that human being was born with an equal status and only a tyranny, aristocratic rule or dictatorship could destroy the peace, freedom, and serenity of common man.

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

PART 2 - 2500 word essay - subject PDAS313 - Fundamentals of Staff

PART 2 - 2500 word - subject PDAS313 - Fundamentals of Staff Development - Essay Example Professor Spencer stresses the interdependence of these principles implying that no principle can stand successfully on its own without the help of the others (Riley 2009). This paper will attempt an analysis of the ten-principle package of the aforementioned Spencer Model by first, taking up one by one the ten principles composing it and summarizing these components as Professor Spencer construed and defined them. These components are then scrutinized and analyzed with respect to their significance and importance in staff development vis-à  -vis the organizational set up, keeping in mind that their inclusion in the ten-package model implies necessity of administrative intervention. After the individual analysis of these principles, then entire model is then analyzed in its entirety, with a view to establishing its authority and soundness as a staff development model. Heterogeneity, Accountability and Responsibility, Altruistic Vision. Heterogeneity, according to Spencer, is an inevitable quality of an organisation because of the individuality of the people composing based on the principle that no two persons are alike. Heterogeneity therefore can hamper staff cohesiveness, a positive quality of a good organisation necessary for its productive functioning. There is therefore, a need according to him, to distinguish between characteristics that are given and those which result from â€Å"administrative/managerial stimuli.† The first kind, Spencer says, is natural and therefore does not warrant control but the second kind, demands confrontation as such behavior may run counter to organisational productivity and goals in general (Riley 2009 10-11). On the other hand, the attitudinal principles of accountability and responsibility have something to do with the acceptance of the duties that come with the assumption of a position in an organisation. The difference between the two terms, according to Spencer, is that

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Ameloblastoma Case Study

Ameloblastoma Case Study Introduction: Ameloblastoma is the most common odontogenic epithelial tumor of the jaw bones. [REF] It was first described by Churchill in 1881 and defined by Robinson as a tumor that is usually â€Å"unicentric, nonfunctional, intermittent in growth, anatomically benign, and clinically persistent†.[M] Although most ameloblastomas are histologically benign and lack cytological atypia, they are generally considered to be locally aggressive and destructive, exhibiting various rates of recurrence. [K] WHO describes four variants of ameloblastoma, i.e. solid multicystic- follicular, plexiform, desmoplastic and unicystic. [Ref] However, many unusual histological variants have been reported in the past that mimic the conventional ameloblastomas but present with a widely variable histological presentation. Only few cases of such histological variants though have been reported in the literature which has made it difficult to predict the clinical course and biological behaviour of these variants. He re, we report a case of verrucopapillary ameloblastoma which is a very uncommon histopathological variant of ameloblastoma. Case report: An 18 year old male patient reported with a chief complaint of swelling in the right side of the lower jaw near the body of the mandible since 3 months which was visible on extraorally. The swelling was hard in consistency and was not associated with pain, paresthesia or discharge. The loco-regional lymph nodes were not palpable. On intraoral examination, the overlying mucosa showed swelling in the right buccal vestibular region without any signs of ulceration or paresthesia. The teeth in the region showed positive response to stimulus on vitality testing. The panoramic radiograph showed a lytic lesion with well defined margins in the premolar–molar region extending distal to the mandibular right second molar. The orthopantomograph of the patient showed a radiolucent multilocular osteolytic lesion extending from the distal periradicular area of 43 till right posterior body angle region corresponding to mesial crown outline of 48 antero-posteriorly and from the alveolar crest t ill the inferior mandibular cortex supero-inferiorly. The 3D cone beam computed tomography reconstruction showed a lesion measuring 5.9cm x 3.2cm x 2.7cm in size with fine curved and linear bony septae in the centre of the osteolytic area. The lesion was expansile with perforation of the buccal and lingual cortical plates and thinning of the inferior border of the mandible. The histopathological examination of the submitted specimen showed an unencapsulated lesion with mature fibrocellular stroma with proliferating odontogenic islands. The periphery of the tumour showed cystic cavity lined by hyperkeratinizing stratified squamous epithelium of varying thickeness. The lining epithelium was thrown into multiple sharp or blunt and rounded verrucopapillary projections into the cystic lumen plugged by keratin. These projections were supported by thin connective tissue cores. Keratin was seen deposited on the surface in the form of parallel lamella and keratin flakes were also present. An unusual finding seen in our case was the presence of acantholytic cells with areas of focal necrosis on the surfa. The lining epithelium shows basal layer with columnar cells with hyperchromatic nuclei and peripheral palisading with surface keratinization and cellular vacuolization indicative of KCOT like areas. Multiple odontogenic islands with peripheral columnar odontogenic cells with hyperchromatic nuclei were present in the connectice tissue stroma. The suppoting connective tissue stroma showed epithelial islands with acanthomatous changes and microcystic degeneration. Interconnecting strands of odontogenic epithelium resembling the plexiform variant were also present. The connective tissue was densely fibrocellular with numerous dilated and engorged blood vessels. Immunohistochemical staining with Ki-67 antibody showed intense positivity in the basal and supra-basal cells with infrequent positivity in the superficial cells indicative of high proliferative potential of the les ion. Immunohistichemical staining with anti-p53 antibody showed basal and suprabasal positivity of the lining epithelium suggestive of mutation in the tumour suppressor gene. Based on the histopathologic evaluation, a diagnosis of papilliferous keratoameloblastoma was given. The lesion was removed completely with wide excision and the patient has not reported back with any recurrence two after the surgery. Discussion: Ameloblastomas are common odontogenic tumour that show diverse, yet pathognomic histopathological features. However, wide variation has been reported in the past regarding the histopathological presentation of ameloblastoma. Squamous metaplasia has been reported commonly in the acanthomatous variant of ameloblastoma where the central stellate reticulum like areas are replaced by squamoid cells. This keratinization is well documented in some lesions such as odontogenic keratocyst, acanthomatous ameloblastoma, calcifying odontogenic cyst, squamous odontogenic tumor, and squamous odontogenic carcinoma. [G] Keratin formation has also been reported in another variant of ameloblastoma termed keratoameloblastoma, which was first described by Pindborg in 1970. Another variant of keratoameloblastoma, with verrucopapillary projections into the lumen has been reported under the name papilliferous ameloblastoma. Till date, 15 cases have reported in English literature with papilliferous histologi c components in ameloblastoma. [F] The distinction between acanthomatous ameloblastoma with keratin production and keratoameloblastoma is not clear. WHO in 2005 described keratin with pearl formation in ameloblastoma under the histologic variant of acanthomatous ameloblastoma. In 1992 classification of odontogenic tumours by WHO, it was defined as ameloblastoma with extensive keratinization. [G] However, Morgan et al have described ameloblastoma with unequivocal keratinization occurring in the centre of the epithelial follicles at the expense of the stellate reticulum-like areas as a keratoameloblastoma. Norval et al suggested that keratoameloblastoma should be considered a variant of acanthomatous ameloblastoma.[F] However, one criteria to distinguish acanthomatous ameloblastoma form keratoameloblastoma is the presence of keratin in the connective tissue stroma as compared to acanthomatous ameloblastoma which has keratin only in the areas showing sqauamous metaplasia in the centre of odontogenic islands and follicle. [H, cross ref 7] The present case in a male patient in the right mandibular body region is similar in presentation as compared to previously reported cases except the age of the patient which is comparatively younger (second decade) as compared to mean age of presentation of KA with papilliferous proliferation which occur at a relatively older age (mean age of occurrence in sixth decade). The right side of the mandible is commonly involved as compared to the left (2:1) with most cases reported in the posterior body-ramus region. [H] Our case differs from the previous cases in showing multiple papilliferous projections with acantholytic cells with necrotic and hemorrhagic material in the lumen and dilated, congested blood vessels. The lesion also showed multiple solid islands of odontogenic epithelium with hyperchromatic nuclei in the connective tissue stroma.[H] Whitt et al have described 4 variants of ameloblastoma showing keratin formation (Table 1). Corio et al.20 have described a keratinizing ameloblastic carcinoma showing the typical histologic features of malignancy in their series of ameloblastic carcinomas, which included pleomorphism, increased nuclear/cytoplastic ratio, nuclear hyperchromatism, increased numbers of mitotic figures, abnormal mitotic figures, and necrosis. Our case fulfils the criteria of papilliferous type of KA. The present case exhibited an elevated level of mitotic activity, altered p53 profile and proliferation index (Ki-67). It can be inferred that the lesion is comparatively more aggressive locally as compared to conventional ameloblastoma, and should be excised extensively to avoid local recurrence. [F] However, it is still unclear how the production of keratin in histopathologic variants of ameloblastoma affects the biological behaviour and prognosis of such lesions. The probable reason could be attributed to less number of reported cases with follow up of such variant to comment definitively on its behaviour. [G] Conclusion: Papilliferous keratoameloblastomas refers to a variant of ameloblastoma that is rarely reported and its biological behaviour is poorly understood. The present case shows higher proliferative activity in the basal and suprabasal cells of the tumour providing an indication of its local aggressiveness as compared to the conventional ameloblastomas. Presently, such lesions are treated in a manner similar to conventional ameloblastomas, though it lacks any authoritative evidence. Report of more such cases with longer follow up duration and molecular profiling is required in the future to completely understand the spectrum of clinical and histological features, biological behaviour and prognosis of such cases. Table 1 : Types Of Keratoameloblastoma Based On Histopathological Features(Whitt et al) Histological type Features Papilliferous histology Odontogenic epithelium is in papillary projections into the cystic spaces Simple histology Epithelial follicles filled with parakeratin or orthokeratin and lined by ameloblast like cells with reversal of polarity Simple histology with odontogenic keratocyst (OKC)-like features Features of conventional odontogenic keratocyst in addition to simple type Complex histology Epithelial follicles packed with parakeratin or orthokeratin, extrusion of keratin masses into connective tissue stroma in the form of pacinian like stacks with or without foreign body reaction; also there may be hard tissue formation resembling cementum and woven bone

Friday, October 25, 2019

16 PF Personality Test Essay -- science

16 PF Personality Test Resolving the conflict of Reliability vs. Accuracy in the 16 PF test Introduction: For psychologists, one of the more popular theories espoused is the trait approach to personality, or â€Å"the idea that people have consistent personality characteristics that can be measured and studied† (Kalat, 2002, 512). However there are several problems that arise. First, there are significant cross-cultural differences, so one set of personality traits for one culture may differ considerably for another. The next problem would concern the creation of a test that could accurately measure these traits. While psychologists have for the most part addressed these issues, I will focus on the latter of the two. There has been a number of multiple personality tests put to use such as the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT), the Rorschach Inkblots and others. In our class we were instructed to take the 16 PF personality test in which we would judge for ourselves how accurate the test was based on our own personal experiences . In judging the usefulness of this test we took into consideration its reliability and validity. For a test to be reliable it must be able to accurately reflect consistent results for various people that can be agreed upon by researchers and therapists alike. Reliability in turn relates to validity. To be valid a test must be dependable producing data that can be used to detect a mental illness or otherwise certain personality dimensions within psychologically healthy individuals. Furthermore personality tests must be standardized, having data capable of being â€Å"interpreted in a prescribed fashion† (Kalat, 2002, 528). These standards are based on a comparison of a large number of people who have taken the test, one group with a particular disorder and another group who consist of the normal range. These allow researchers to identify people who score within a certain range to be more typical of a particular disorder. While the 16 PF personality test meets these criteria, whether or not the test is accurate remains to be explored. Within the next couple of pages I will describe the results of the test and discuss whether or not the data is an accurate reflection of my own personality. Discussion and Interpretation of Scores: While the 16 PF personality test measured the ... ...y until asked to. Graph of all 18 Factors: Conclusion: The test overall did a fairly accurate job in measuring the various factors of my personality. I only disagreed with two of the ten factors, which I merely saw as an overt measurement. The test appeared to be valid for the most part pertaining to my case, and since validity correlates with reliability, its reliability appears to be relatively strong. However this is merely an opinion based on my interpretation of my own personality. It could be equally likely that other people may get many scores in which they totally disagree on. Since this test was written 20 years ago the question of re-standardization also comes into play. As for cross-cultural differences discussed in the introduction, to me it is unclear whether or not the questions are common to all cultures and backgrounds, yet among English speakers the questions seemed well structured. While no test is perfect, the 16 PF does seem to have relatively high reliability and validity, making it ideal in measuring personality tra its. References: Kalat, J. (2002). Introduction to Psychology (Sixth Edition). Pacific Groove, CA: Wadsworth- Thomson Learning. 16 PF Personality Test Essay -- science 16 PF Personality Test Resolving the conflict of Reliability vs. Accuracy in the 16 PF test Introduction: For psychologists, one of the more popular theories espoused is the trait approach to personality, or â€Å"the idea that people have consistent personality characteristics that can be measured and studied† (Kalat, 2002, 512). However there are several problems that arise. First, there are significant cross-cultural differences, so one set of personality traits for one culture may differ considerably for another. The next problem would concern the creation of a test that could accurately measure these traits. While psychologists have for the most part addressed these issues, I will focus on the latter of the two. There has been a number of multiple personality tests put to use such as the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT), the Rorschach Inkblots and others. In our class we were instructed to take the 16 PF personality test in which we would judge for ourselves how accurate the test was based on our own personal experiences . In judging the usefulness of this test we took into consideration its reliability and validity. For a test to be reliable it must be able to accurately reflect consistent results for various people that can be agreed upon by researchers and therapists alike. Reliability in turn relates to validity. To be valid a test must be dependable producing data that can be used to detect a mental illness or otherwise certain personality dimensions within psychologically healthy individuals. Furthermore personality tests must be standardized, having data capable of being â€Å"interpreted in a prescribed fashion† (Kalat, 2002, 528). These standards are based on a comparison of a large number of people who have taken the test, one group with a particular disorder and another group who consist of the normal range. These allow researchers to identify people who score within a certain range to be more typical of a particular disorder. While the 16 PF personality test meets these criteria, whether or not the test is accurate remains to be explored. Within the next couple of pages I will describe the results of the test and discuss whether or not the data is an accurate reflection of my own personality. Discussion and Interpretation of Scores: While the 16 PF personality test measured the ... ...y until asked to. Graph of all 18 Factors: Conclusion: The test overall did a fairly accurate job in measuring the various factors of my personality. I only disagreed with two of the ten factors, which I merely saw as an overt measurement. The test appeared to be valid for the most part pertaining to my case, and since validity correlates with reliability, its reliability appears to be relatively strong. However this is merely an opinion based on my interpretation of my own personality. It could be equally likely that other people may get many scores in which they totally disagree on. Since this test was written 20 years ago the question of re-standardization also comes into play. As for cross-cultural differences discussed in the introduction, to me it is unclear whether or not the questions are common to all cultures and backgrounds, yet among English speakers the questions seemed well structured. While no test is perfect, the 16 PF does seem to have relatively high reliability and validity, making it ideal in measuring personality tra its. References: Kalat, J. (2002). Introduction to Psychology (Sixth Edition). Pacific Groove, CA: Wadsworth- Thomson Learning.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

American Industrialization And Immigration

This song, written for the Yiddish theatre around 1900 by Hyman Prizit and Abe Schwarz, is a fairly good summation of the essay The Uprooted, written about 50 years later by Oscar Handlin. The second great wave of immigrants during the last half of the nineteenth century consisted of peasant farmers from Eastern and Southern Europe as well as Scandinavia, forced off of lands that had sustained them for generations, no longer able to extract a living from it, or fleeing persecutions and repressive, quasi-feudal governments.The had heard of â€Å"Amerika,† where the streets were paved with gold and land was there for the taking. Often spending all they had, those who survived the crossing arrived and found the streets paved not with gold, but with the blood, sweat and toil of those who were exploited to create gold for elite ruling classes that were often more oppressive than those they had fled. The difference was in the nature of the exploitation and oppression. Whereas in the â€Å"Old Country,† physical violence had most often been the tool of oppression – Cossacks, private police, etc.– in the industrial-capitalistic U. S. , the oppression was economic. Those who controlled the means of production, then as now, though only of maximizing and internalizing profits while minimizing and externalizing costs. Human life meant nothing to the industrial capitalist overlords. Had not the 13th Amendment outlawed slavery, they would have happily enslaved the newcomers in order to keep themselves in luxury. A few of the immigrants were able to escape the cities, and even fewer managed to acquire land and establish farms.Most however found themselves trapped in a system that not only cut them off from the land, entrapping them in a virtual jungle of concrete, brick and stone, but found their very lives subject to economic cycles, manipulations and machinations they could neither understand nor control. When employment was available, the demand s of the corporate leeches robbed the immigrant laborers of the comforts of family, culture and even religious faith, since workers were often required to work seven days a week.In Ethnic Enclaves and the Worker’s Saloon, Roy Rosenzweig describes how the workers of one city were able to take back some power from their corporate overlords, and how the unique character of this city made it even possible. Worcester Massachusetts was unusual in a number of ways. Unlike many industrial towns, it was not located near a navigable river nor a source of raw materials. Additionally, during the wave of corporate mergers and acquisition that took place during the first â€Å"Robber Baron† era around the turn of the 20th century, most of the factories in Worcester managed to remain under local control.â€Å"Control† was the operative word, here; the families who started Worcester’s industries virtually controlled the community. As in large port cities such as Baltimor e, New York and Boston, the immigrant workforce was a mixed lot who often could not see beyond their own ethnic and religious differences to realize that as workers, they shared many of the same problems. In addition, the control of city politics by the industrial capitalists made it difficult for working-class people to get involved in the system in any sort of active way. This, combined with â€Å"the carrot of paternalism† (i. e., â€Å"faith-based initiatives,† charity organizations, educational programs) and the â€Å"stick of repression† (threat of firings if workers were suspected of union activity, tracking of personal information and the use of company spies) helped the elite classes maintain control over the workforce (88). As the ethnic landscape grew more diverse, the individual ethnic communities began to â€Å"circle the wagons,† metaphorically speaking; the results were an â€Å"interweaving of church, fraternal lodge and family† tha t allowed built a support system for the various communities – who were, often as not, at odds with each other.This in combination with the more structured, disciplinarian and authoritarian structure in the workplace that inhibited socialization, gave rise to the saloons – literal drinking establishments as the working class began to have more leisure time. Whereas in earlier times, drinking and socializing on the job (primarily in artisan and agricultural industries) was permissible, in the more mechanized industrial workplace, it was not (more because the bosses wanted more control over their workers rather than out of any real concern for their safety, one suspects).This also had the effect of separating the male from home and family to a greater degree (89). U. S. history appears to run in cycles, with a pendulum that swings from an egalitarian, socialistic economic model in which the economy serves the people, to a quasi-feudal, hyper-capitalistic, laissez-faire s ystem in which a few ruthless individuals claw their way to the top of the socio-economic ladder and become economic leeches, literally feeding off of the blood and sweat of honest laborers while contributing little, if anything to the betterment of society (cases in point – the Walton (Wal-Mart) family, Paris Hilton and the Bush dynasty).Like today, the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries was a period of capitalism run amuck, justified by a sick, twisted perversion of Christianity preached by a murderous sociopath over four hundred years before in Geneva, Switzerland. Like the medieval Catholicism, Calvinism has been used to justify authoritarianism dominance by a patriarchal, self-appointed aristocracy, whose only interests are in the accumulation of wealth and power over society.Human needs and even lives mean nothing to these predators (although their Congressional lap-dogs and lickspittles are not above moralizing about a â€Å"culture of life† – as long as it involves people who are either still in the womb, are vegetative, or anyone else for whom they themselves don’t need to take any direct responsibility). The tragedy is that the concept of the sweatshop and worker exploitation has never completely disappeared, despite the efforts of the â€Å"saloons† and the union movements that ultimately grew from them.In the 1930’s, Franklin Roosevelt literally â€Å"saved capitalism from itself† with the New Deal that among other things, strengthened worker protections and the right to form a union. For about four decades, these policies resulted in the establishment of a solid middle class – corresponding to the â€Å"yeomanry† that Thomas Jefferson himself said was the bedrock of a democracy. Like the first middle class of the U. S. , which existed between 1790 and 1840, this middle class was politically savvy and involved.When this activism forced an end to their highly profitable war in Vietnam, the politicians and their corporate backers in the war industries responded with a â€Å"new† brand of conservatism which was really the same kind of predatory, â€Å"robber baron† economics that FDR had tried to end. The ultimate goal of today’s neo-conservatism is to end democracy and replace it with feudalism by destroying the middle and working classes – something Reagan and his three successors have been doing quite effectively.Since the labor laws that would have permitted a return to child labor, sweatshops and twelve-hour, seven-day-a-week work schedules would be hard to overcome, this labor was simply shipped overseas to nations where such things were permitted. This not only allowed corporate capitalists to maximize profits to obscene levels on the backs of these workers, it also robbed American workers of their livelihoods, and has put much of the middle class in such economic insecurity, they have little time or inclination for activ ism.This was made possible by a number of things: Reagan’s intentional failure to enforce the Sherman Act, and the elimination of the tariffs that financed a great deal of the federal government for 200 years. This was followed by â€Å"Free Trade† agreements that are in fact â€Å"free† for large corporate interests, but exact a heavy price on everyone else, and the transfer of the â€Å"commons† – that which the citizens of a nation hold in ownership collectively – to private, predatory, profit-driven corporations.The results are clear, if not generally spoken of my a bought-and-paid-for corporate media: 46 million U. S. citizens with no access to health care, the destruction and continuing neglect of a major port city, the rape of a foreign country on behalf of private corporate oil interests (being protected in large part by a private, well-paid mercenary army while U. S. ground troops go without the most basic necessities), the deterior ation of public education, the sell-out of U. S.industry and infrastructure to foreign interests, the near-destruction of the middle class as wealth is stolen through regressive taxes and transferred to economic parasites such as the Walton family. Handlin paints an accurate picture of a time that not only was, but is in great danger of returning. The only hope for the U. S. is suggested by Rosenzweig, which is actually being seen today on the Internet. Today’s Progressive on-line blogs and chatrooms are the new â€Å"Saloons,† where the issues outlined above – long ignored or misunderstood by a citizenry lulled by the panen et circensem of today – are finally being discussed.While the majority of â€Å"Republicrats† and â€Å"Demopublicans† in Congress continue to thumb their noses at the citizens they claim to represent as they continue to enable a dysfunctional, sociopathic, twice-unelected â€Å"president† and his fascist-leaning cohorts, today’s technology has made it impossible to hide the corruption and decay completely. History runs in cycles. Just as the last quarter-century has seen the return of exploitive Robber Baron capitalism, so has the Internet provided â€Å"Saloons† where the working class can once again take back what is rightfully theirs and create an economy that serves people – not the other way around.