Thursday, December 26, 2019

Essay about Hinduism - 1135 Words

What is Hinduism? Sanatana Dharma, otherwise known as Hinduism, means eternal religion. Defining Hinduism may be difficult due to multiple variations of religions, such as Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism, which have steamed from Sanatana Dharma beliefs. Instead of focusing on a direct definition of Hinduism, it might be easier to identify Hindu philosophies and key practices that make up Hindu beliefs. Is it a religion or is it a culture? The truth is - it is both a religion and a way of life. Hinduism is also known as Sanatana Dharma to Hindus. Hinduism was founded and in India. India gave to the world the original, oldest and most profound philosophy of life. The brilliant ancestors of present-day Indians explored the Truth behind†¦show more content†¦Since Hindu beliefs are based on Vedic literature, Hinduism is vital to the preservation of early Indian history and beliefs. The four main parts of the Veda are the Rig-veda, Yajur-veda, Sama-veda, and Atharva-veda. Hinduism i s influenced by all four parts of the Veda and the Veda is held sacred in Hindu religion. The Veda is what would be comparable to the Christian Bible or the Muslim Quran but is Hindu belief. All four parts of the Veda include separate, but related, philosophies. Since Vedic literature is vast it is important to know what the focus of the Veda is, Absolute Reality. Absolute Reality is liberation from the material world with the understanding of ones Self and what cannot be experienced through the five senses. Liberation is obtained through numerous reincarnations of the soul into other life forms until the soul is liberated from rebirths due to achieving moksha, or realization of the immortal Absolute. Desire for liberation of earthly existence is the desire to be freed of earthly despair. The caste system, originally described in the Vedas, but much abused and maligned over the years, is nothing but a representation of an efficient human society. The four castes described in the scriptures are - the Brahmins, the Kshatriyas, the Vaishyas, and the Shudras. According to the Vedas, an efficient human society is based on the strength of its educational/knowledge-pursuit systemShow MoreRelatedHinduism : Hinduism And Hinduism1140 Words   |  5 PagesPart One: Hinduism Worldview Hinduism is a panetheism belief system in which there are over 330 million different deities. They have a large number of different sects (Hindson and Caner 262-265). Hinduism starts with 3 Trimurti, or deities and ends with over 330 million different gods (Hindson and Caner 262-265). With an estimated 850 million followers (Halverson 1-8) . Hindus strongly believe in reincarnation, and karma. They believe that untill one reaches the highest state of purity, they willRead MoreHinduism And Buddhism And Hinduism1641 Words   |  7 PagesSo far we’ve learned about Hinduism and Buddhism in India two of the most common religions found in India. One of the many things about learning about different culture is the religion that is come with. Religion is one of the many things that are unique to each and every culture. Religion views are what make a group of individuals come together and form a community. In core 7 we are learning about Hinduism and Buddhism learning about India and their religion views has helped me see the world inRead MoreHinduism, Hinduism And Buddhism1205 Words   |  5 Pagesafterlife has become a controversial subject across many religions. Religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism have provided a multitude of similar and different analysis behind their specific beliefs and practices. Similar to many religions practiced around the world, Hinduism portrays a great amount of belief in worshipping gods that they believe play a special role in their history. Though when speaking of Hinduism, I should mention that it does not consist of a single, dominant religion. It is aRead MoreHinduism : Buddhism And Hinduism1045 Words   |  5 PagesSoutheast Asia, particularly India, is the birthplace of many religions. India is where these two religions arose: Buddhism and Hinduism. Hinduism is a very ancient belief system derived from the lifestyle of Southeast Asia. It still has a strong presence in its place of origin and it is characterized as a family of religions. An offspring of Hinduism, Buddhism is also a family of religions, except it has less of a strong presence in its place of birth. Yet, situated to the East area of the worldRead MoreHinduism, Islam, And Hinduism Essay1205 Words   |  5 Pagesthese principles often have a primary theme that they tend to suppor t. The major religions that are practiced b many people across the world are Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism. The three religions are practiced in different parts of the world depending on the beliefs of the population in a particular part of the world. Hinduism is a religion that is dominant in South Asia. In particular, the Hindu religion is mostly practiced in India than in other countries. Ranked as the third largest religionRead MoreSimilarities Between Hinduism And Hinduism1390 Words   |  6 Pagesboth fall under the religions of Hinduism. Not only do the details of the pieces help explain the art, but so does the culture and the religion practiced at the time the piece was made. Hinduism is a major religion in India that is practiced by almost everyone. This is where they believe in one supreme being that has many different aspects. People who don’t understand Hinduism commonly mistake it with Buddhism due to the fact they share similar beliefs. Hinduism has the most affect on the cultureRead MoreBuddhism Vs Hinduism : Hinduism1573 Words   |  7 PagesBuddhism vs Hinduism Hinduism and Buddhism are two religions that are very open and tolerant of all people. They are religons that believe in acceptance of all and open-mindedness of other religons. Hinduism is the oldest religion on the planet that has been well established and still has a large following. To put it into perspective if religons were under 100 years old Hinduism would be 80 and Judaism and Christianity would still be in their 20s or 30s. Buddhism is also a long-standing religionRead MoreSimilarities Between Hinduism And Hinduism1560 Words   |  7 Pages and Buddha. Buddhism and Hinduism are two of the world’s oldest religion. Since Buddhism developed from Hinduism they can be very similar however, they are not the same because both religions have different types of rituals, founders, and gods. They also have different views on life and enlightenment. In this paper I will discuss the foundations and practices of both religions and then move into a discussion comparing and c ontrasting the two religions. Hinduism is a very interesting religionRead MoreBuddhism, Hinduism, And Hinduism1817 Words   |  8 PagesMost of these religions are based off the belief in a god, or have a moral code that they need to follow in order to appease their god or achieve salvation in the afterlife. Three religions that will be highlighted here are Buddhism, Sikhism, and Hinduism. In each of these three religions, they all share some religious tenets, or beliefs, that is universally accepted amongst all religions around the world and throughout history. Some of these tenets include the belief in a god or a Supreme Being.Read MoreSimilarities Between Hinduism And Hinduism Essay902 Words   |  4 PagesChristianity Versus Hinduism Christianity and Hinduism, are two of the worlds oldest religions. Although they are very different religions they share one main goal; salvation. However, their idea of salvation and what they have to do ,and what must be done to attain salvation are very different. Two main similarities between the Hindu religion and Christian religion are referred to by different titles; nevertheless they are represented by the same action. One example of these similarities would

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Essay about Tom Sawyer vs Huck Finn - 919 Words

Even though Tom Sawyer might be â€Å"civilized† and a socially accepted boy, Huck is a better person because he knows that slavery is wrong and he is more rational and reasonable. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain shows this many different situations in which the uncivilized person, Huck, is actually the civilized person, and also is more of a realistic and reasonable. One example of how Huck is more of a realistic person is when they form a gang and are going to rob a large caravan that is supposed pass by; when in reality they were going to rob a Sunday school. They are at a cave in St. Petersburg, Missouri. This took place by a cave after Huck leaves the Widow’s home to meet up with Tom. This supports the thesis†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"He could not be exhibited in any amorous encounters or engagements, in any of the juvenile affections which are appropriate to Tom Sawyer (Elliot pg.7).† This is from T.S Elliot’s introduction to the book and it also supports the thesis, because it involves showing his childish side, of how he wants to do everything he reads Also Tom is uncivilized because of the way he accepts slavery, and how he is so stuck in the world of back then and how they treated slaves as property more than the human beings that they were. It was wrong and we all know it, but the thing was that since Tom was â€Å"educated† it was taught to him that slave holding was right and that and he should treat them as they were treated because they were seen as property. This is shown, but not as much, when he plays a trick on Jim, Miss Watson’s slave, by putting his hat on a tree limb when he was asleep, in the widow’s back yard, at night after Huck sneaks out to meet with Tom. At the time Huck thought is was funny to , but deep down inside and after remembering the moment he knew that it wasn’t the nicest thing that you could do to a person like that. Huck states â€Å"Tom said that he slipped off Jim’s hat and hung it on a limb over his head†¦ (Twain pg. 19).† This is the quote from the book, and after the incidence, Jim would sayShow MoreRelatedThe Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn By Mark Twain1728 Words   |  7 PagesAdventures of Huckleberry Finn Despite being banned in many public schools, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, has been cherished throughout American society for many decades due to the it’s clever characters, absorbing storytelling, and engaging plotline. There are three reasons in which I am led to believe that it is the quintessential American classic novel; these three reasons include the explicit detail of racial differences during this time frame, the faultless self vs. self conflict, and theRead MoreHuckleberry Finn: Realism vs. Romanticism1010 Words   |  5 PagesHuckleberry Finn: Realism vs. Romanticism The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, written by Mark Twain, mainly takes place on the Mississippi River, as Huck and Jim pursue their freedom. They persevere through many obstacles and learn life lessons along the way. Twain uses these characters to depict the significance of friendship over societys moral structure. He demonstrates characteristics of both Romanticism and Realism in his novel to express his ideas of that time period. Romanticism is basedRead MoreHuckleberry Finn : American Literature And Culture1622 Words   |  7 Pagesthemselves, based on honorable values. Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer are the first kids depicted in American literature, and through them, Mark Twain develops the concept of kid, by having them participate in comical manipulation and deception. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has two principal lies, imaginative lying and deceitful lying. Lying and deceit are central themes Twain uses to develop the blueprint of a child. Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Fi nn, and the King and Duke involve themselves in comicalRead MoreThe Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn By Mark Twain1081 Words   |  5 PagesFinal Huck Finn grew up in an abusive home in which he has no control over. Huck does not wish to ever go back to such a hell since one knows about such a man to do such harsh things. You’re self-wellness by in which you grew upon throughout the years has turned you into the person you are today. The people you’ve been around, the friends you’ve made, and even the enemies you’ve made have made you who you are today. Huck Finn is like you in such a way. Always trying to figure what’s right and what’sRead MoreMark Twains Huckleberry Finn Essay1708 Words   |  7 PagesMark Twains Huckleberry Finn The novel is set in the 1930s in St. Petersburg, a fictitious place supposedly reminiscent of the town of Hannibal, Missouri the place where Mark Twain grew up. It follows the events in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, also of the same author. CHARACTERS Huck Finn. Huckleberry Finn or Huck Fin is the protagonist of the story. A dynamic character, he is a liar and sometimes a thief. In Tom Sawyers book, he is a vagabond with a drunkard father. In this bookRead MoreThe Adventures of Huckleberry Finn800 Words   |  4 Pages The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is an action-packed adventure about Huckleberry Finn, an extraordinary young boy growing up along the Mississippi River. The author, Mark Twain, established rigid conflict and left his readers in disbelief over some of the occurrences in the book. All adventure long, Huck and his comrades must adapt to keep their dreams alive. Huck becomes a better person from experiencing all the hardships that he endured, whether it is being thankful for his friends or becomingRead MoreThe Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn4280 Words   |  18 PagesNadeem Sbaiti Mrs. Greenlee HN ENG III 1, June 2015 Independent Novel Project The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Knowledge Significance Of Title The title The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn seems to be very self-explanatory of the significance hence the name. Furthermore after further review and thought I have realized there is a deeper meaning than just that of Huckleberry Finn. When the book first begins it is showing the start of the young boys band of robbers and it leads you to believe theRead MoreEssay on Huck Finn2499 Words   |  10 Pages Throughout the Mark Twain (a.k.a. Samuel Clemens) novel, The Adventures of HuckleBerry Finn, a plain and striking point of view is expressed by the author. His point of view is that of a cynic; he looks upon civilized man as a merciless, cowardly, hypocritical savage, without want of change, nor ability to effect such change. Thus, one of Mark Twains main purposes in producing this work seems clear: he wishes to bring to attention some of mans often concealed shortcomings. While the examplesRead MoreTheAdventuresofHuckleberryFinn Ch959 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿ Chapters 1-5 (1-V) pages 1-17: Status Quo and Conformity: Civilizing Huck 1. How and why does Twain establish Huck’s voice as storyteller? What do we learn about Huck from what he reveals of other characters’ assessments of him? 2. Make two columns, listing Huck’s clear likes and dislikes as he reveals them in these chapters. What things does he have trouble understanding? 3. What are Huck’s feelings about his adoption by the Widow Douglas and her sister, Miss Watson? As a motherless boy, doesRead MoreThe Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn By Mark Twain2087 Words   |  9 PagesHuckleberry Finn vs. Society INTRODUCTION The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain, presents a human vs. society conflict. The main character, Huck, is raised without any structure. He has no rules, no discipline and strongly rebelled against anything that could civilize him. Through the novel, the audience sees Huck try to be civilized by society. Because of this conflict, we are introduced to many characters throughout the narrative. Mark Twain being a very descriptive writer uses a ton

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Threats and Opportunities

Question: Write each risk (both the threats and opportunities) in the appropriate "If...Then..." format. Answer: Introduction FBI has 23 divisions, and they are controlled by five executive assistant directors. Each division has its own IT department, and they are supervised by chief information officer. They have 40 50 database application, 12400 agents out of 56 field office and above 300 satellites. They follow a sequence of approval from higher authority, and have numerous forms to fill up relating any issue. Now the FBI is considering implementing Virtual Case File system, while removing their age old ACS system. With the help of Special agent Larry Depew, they are evaluating various threats and opportunity while making such decision. They have given various context of implementation, problem related to ACS system, and change the FBI team badly required regarding their database system. We are to evaluate with their help. Threats 1) Cost Plus / Award Fee: The development contract are Cost Plus/ Award Fee contracts. This means that FBI will pay for only the cost of material and labour used to develop the VCF software, and they might pay extra money if the work is executed in cost effective way. But if the cost is increased while making the software, or if extra cost is incurred by the contractor, FBI has to pay total cost incurred. The development contracts do not specify any formal project Schedule or milestone. It is also visible that the contractors will keep on increasing the cost without any bar on it, and since the specific time is not mentioned of when to finish the project, date will only extend for the completion of software along with the increase of cost. If Cost Plus / Award fee contract is carried on, then fees will keep on hiking. 2) No Enterprise Architecture: One the most important threat is that there is not FBI Enterprise Architecture. To understand its importance, we have to first understand what it means. Enterprise Architecture is the blue print which states the enterprise functioning and building. Many organizations depend on blueprint, which helps in guiding software developers of the need of the organization. It provides open and very responsive IT. The understanding of the current need of the organization and how to achieve it are made with the help of blue print. It also provides a road map about how any new change can be implemented and how to achieve your future for which such implementation is done. If the blue print is not there then software developers will take time understanding the system. 3) Spiral Methodology: FBI and the contractors are following Spiral Methodology, Spiral Methodology contains both bottom up and top-down concepts. It evaluate the first prototype and based on it designs the second prototype. Thereafter planning, designing, constructing and testing the second prototype. Such models are comparatively a complex model, as it constantly fails to determine the ultimate composition of software. These models, they dont have a deadline for completion of software development, it might fail to meet the budget. If they follow this model, then with every change more and more codes will be delivered to verify. 4) Macro Managers: Another possible threat to VCF software is the macro management of the agents, as per the given case it clearly mention that there is sequence to follow for reporting, Field agent of the squad - supervisor of the squad assistant special agent special agent in charge of field office. Agents have to gain confirmation from supervisor and from special agent in charge. It is an age old process, which they have been following for more than 50 years. If such system still continues then agents will feel controlled and with no superiors support. 5) Flash Cut-over: FBI and the software developers were following flash cutover approach for the implementation of the software. In flash cutover, a software is implemented at one go, that is old software is removed and a new software is fully implemented, even if it is not working. It is like this that agents are logging off with the old system on Friday evening and log on to a fully new system on Monday morning and there is no going back from that. It is quite a bold step to put such software without implementing it along with the old software, agents will get comfortable with the new software and how to operate it. If Flash cut-over approach is followed, then agents will face problem in operating it. Opportunities 1) No Paper Work: One of the most important advantages of implementing Virtual Case file system is that it will completely remove all the paper work regarding the submission of different forms, example to conduct a wiretap, to wire an informant with a body recorder and transmitter etc. Such system will be removed and instead of that everything will be done electronically and agents will not have any problem while updating it, as they have while updating the ACS system for data. If data are stored electronically then it will always be available. 2) Connecting Dots: VCF system is a vast improvement over ACS system; it will accept scanned documents, photographs and other electronic media to simplify tracking. By filling the forms online, agents will not have to fax them to their superior, with just one click of online submission it will be directed to their superior, and on acceptance of the superiors the agent would be able to proceed further. This system will bring all the data at one place, to avoid duplication or non disclosure of data, and the agents can gain access from anywhere regarding any data. If this system is installed, then it will help to connect the dots. 3) Removal of ACS: Many of the agents have less to no faith in ACS system, while updating. If VCF is implemented, it will not only remove the ACS, it will also gain faith from agents due its better and improved feature. All this will help in organizing the FBI operation and will help in achieving its objective more easily and comfortably. If ACS is removed, then the working would be easier. Conclusion In this case study, FBI is planning to implement Virtual Case File system for better functioning of FBI. Context of its implementation is given along with problems related to Automated Case Study system. From it we concluded that there are some threats and opportunity related to Virtual Case File system. Some of the opportunities are: No Paper Work Connecting the dots, Removal of ACS system. While some of the threats are: Cost Plus / Award Fee No Enterprise Architecture Spiral Methodology Macro Managers Flash Cut-over: If these threats are removed and opportunities are more widely established, then the application of VCF would be a great success.

Monday, December 2, 2019

Technology Development In Asia

Introduction After the end of the Second World War, the third world nations were decolonized and this saw the emergence of new independent states. With this came the assimilation of new scientific and technological innovations in the developing nations. These developments were considered core in the development of the states.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Technology Development In Asia specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This awareness has consequently led to the emergence of numerous national and international studies that seek to establish the effects of science and technology in the society among other issues. The various developments in the Asian countries include infrastructure, high-tech manufacturing and many more. The Asian countries have always considered science and technology a vital tool in the achievement of economic and political objectives. In order to properly manage and run the various initiative s, the countries have set aside institutions to foresee these undertakings. These institutions have various objectives and usually may work together to achieve a common goal. For example, the institutions in the telecommunication networks may work together with those that are involved in Information Technology (IT) in order to achieve their goals. This means that the institutions form a system that work as a unit. Institutions The Asian countries have several bodies that spearhead technological development within the country. China, for example, has the main administrative body referred to as the State Council of the People’s Republic of China. Under it are other institutions that handle various aspects of science and technology. The organization of the national policy is done by the State Council Science and Education Leading Group. The major scientific and technological strategies within the country are made by the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s R epublic of China. The institutions within the Asian countries form a system since they work together in order to achieve their greater goal of enhancing science and technological advancements in order to cause development and growth of the economy. Technological advancements Some of the earliest inventions in Asian countries included the gunpowder, printing, papermaking and the compass. These were the four greatest inventions in China. These discoveries had a great impact in the development of China and other Asian countries.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More These discoveries were later adopted in other nations such as the Arab countries and the European countries. The discovery of gunpowder led to advancements in the production of firearms, rockets, landmines, among various other elements used in the military. Another technological development in the Asian countries is in e ngineering. In china, for example, some of the early engineering works included the piston pumps, horse collars, the seed drills and the wheelbarrows. The suspension bridge is also a major technological development in Asia. The Tang Dynasty marked a period of important innovations. Agriculture One of the developments in science and technology in Asia is development in agricultural technologies. This was facilitated by the transfer of such technologies after World War II. Many countries in Asia such as India and Thailand mainly depended on agricultural products to grow their economies. Therefore, the institutions that were involved in the development of such technologies participated in such developmental activities in order to modernise the agricultural sector. This played a great role in the formation of a compact system made up of innovations within the country. Some of the institutions that were responsible for the technological developments in the continent were the universities and other public institutions. These institutions focused on developing new technologies and innovations in various fields including agriculture. Various government institutions are also involved in research to come up with better technologies and innovations. For example, they came up with better ways to manage pasture, introduced crop rotation and various other ways of improving seeding rate. The agricultural sector has also improved due to the innovations in farm machinery and agrochemicals. Automobile industry Asian countries such as India, South Korea, Japan and Thailand have among the world’s largest automobile industries. This has been made possible by their automobile engineering. The science and technology in the Republic of India, for example, has employed advanced technologies in the manufacture of commercial vehicles. These technologies include the engine assembly units, assembly plants and UV assembly units.Advertising We will write a custom report sample o n Technology Development In Asia specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Due to advancements in technology, the automobile industry has greatly developed in order to conform to the international standards that seek to reduce pollution due to combustion. This has seen modification in the vehicle engines. This has also seen the inclusion of other forms of energy other than fuel. These innovations have led to the introduction of electric and hybrid vehicles. The hybrid vehicles use both the normal fuel engine and electric power. This technology has been used in vehicles and powertrains. This is done in order to achieve better fuel economy and to reduce the emissions from the engine. Therefore, it has enhanced the economy and preserved the environment. This may be seen in the reduction in air and water pollution. Secondly, it is less costly. Although the initial cost of acquiring an electric or hybrid vehicles is high, it is relatively cheaper t o own and maintain them as compared to the combustion engine vehicles. They are also more reliable since they have fewer moving parts. Therefore, this means they do not require fluids such as the transmission, anti-freeze and the engine oils. This also means that they do not require as much maintenance as the fuel engines do. Furthermore, electric vehicles are generally quieter than the fuel engines. Communication The telecommunication network in India has continuously undergone development due to technological advancements. For example, India is the second largest in the world basing on the total number of phone users. The network has been transformed into the next generation network. The telecommunication network is characterised by modern telephone exchange systems, signalling and media gateways, among various other advanced technologies. All these elements are interconnected and the data (information) is transmitted using Microwave radio waves or optical fibers. These systems al so employ such technologies as wireless connections. The Asian countries have also recorded advancements in broadcasting technology. For example, DTH – which is one of the new technologies in the field – is popularly used in these countries. Asia has greatly utilized satellite systems in their telecommunication networks. It is used to link up the various aspects of communication such as telephones, internet, radios and television.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 mobile phone industry in China is huge and is supplying mobile phones to countries all over the world. New technologies have enabled the mobile phone industry in such countries to join the smart phone revolution that has seen greater functionality of the mobile handsets that include faster and smarter internet browsing and other computer-like functionalities. Information technology The Asian countries have greatly been known due to their advanced IT and ITES sectors. These sectors have employed various scientific technologies. The institutions involved in the development of these technologies in IT form a system in that they enable the linking up of the various IT sectors. The IT sector has greatly contributed to the GDP of many Asian countries such as Japan, India and China. This sector has also greatly contributed to the increase in employment opportunities in the countries. India has grown into the information age due to the technologies used in IT. In India, the National Inf ormatics Centre was established to spearhead the IT sector. Later on, the Computer Maintenance Company was also established. Some of the institutions involved in IT innovations include the Tata Infotech, Wipro, among others. With more research, there were greater improvements in IT and this saw the sector advance into the microchip revolution. Three computer networking schemes were also developed by the government. These three schemes acted as a system. Technologies in space exploration Various Asian countries have developed technologies in space exploration. For example, Japan has succeeded in space exploration due to its innovativeness. With several years of research, Japan developed rockets that would lead to space exploration. The institution involved in this initiative was the Institute of Industrial Science. The first steps included launching the rockets horizontally. In 1970, Japan successfully launched a manmade satellite into the earth’s orbit. India was also not lef t behind in these innovations. Headed by the Indian Space Research Organization, India explored space technologies in order to apply it to benefit the country. There are various government space agencies. They include NASA, JAXA, among others. Nuclear technology Several Asian countries have employed nuclear power as a major source of electricity. This has been made possible due to the technological advancements. Nuclear power has supplemented other power sources in order to increase the capacity of power in the countries. Despite the dangers associated with the use of nuclear power, there are great benefits including the fact that it provides great amounts of power. Conclusion It can be seen that Asian countries have greatly developed in science and technology. These innovations are usually spearheaded by institutions within the specific countries. These institutions in the various fields work together to form a system that interconnects the various elements together. The technologi cal development in Asia is characterised by the development in the various fields. One of the areas where science and technology has played a major role is agriculture. With research in the area, innovations have been initiated in the agricultural sector. This includes the improvements in the ways of performing some of the farming activities. Improvements have also been seen in the machinery used. Another area where the Asian countries have employed technology is the automobile industry. This may be seen in their manufacturing plants and the vehicles themselves. The invention of electric vehicles was a great innovation since it helped in reducing fuel consumption and the conservation of the environment. Technological advancements in communication and information technology have greatly improved people’s lives in various ways. Nuclear technology is also a great initiative since it has provided an alternative source of power. Together, these technological initiatives (run by th e various institutions) form a system that aims at applying the new technologies to improve livelihoods and cause economic growth. Bibliography Chong, Choy, and Peter Lindstrom. New Developments in Emerging Asia: Business Opportunities in new Markets and technology. Gallen: University of St. Gallen, 2003. Ebrey, Patricia. The Cambridge Illustrated history of china. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996. Liang, Jieming. Chinese siege warfare: Mechanical Artillery Siege weapons of antiquity. Singapore: Leong Kit Meng, 2006. Needham, Joseph, Kenneth Robinson and Jen-Yu Haung. Science and Civilisation in China. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2004. Scoones, Ian, and John Thompson. Beyond Farm First: Rural people’s knowledge, agricultural research and extension practices. London: Intermediate Technology Publications, 1994. This report on Technology Development In Asia was written and submitted by user Matthias Hansen 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.

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Infant observation essays

Infant observation essays On Wednesday, July 19th, I had a chance to observe carefully an infant for about half an hour in my psychology class at Santa Monica College. The infant, Ali Osman is a healthy, playfull boy, appeared to be of Middle Eastern origin. He is 15.5 months old, 32" tall and weighs about 24 lbs with brown curly hair, dark brown eyes and fairly tanned skin. 1. There were several kinds of toys like blocks, dolls, automobiles... in the room. However, when he just came in, he was immediately drawn to the dolls with intense focus. Eventhough there wasn't any way to measure his heart rate or brain wave, I could easily tell how interested he was by the way he gazed, touched and played with the dolls. This could be explained by the fact that "the perception of an unfamiliar stimulus usually elicits physiological responses" (Berger, p. 156). Later, this explanation of mine for his behavior was confirmed to be correct by his mother that he had never seen a doll before. Clearly, he was sensing the strange object and trying to perceive it. And exactly as the text said, "eventually, habituation occurs, in which the stimulus becomes so familiar and uninteresting that these responses slow down." (Berger, p. 156), he got tired of the dolls and began to pay attention to other toys and people around. 2. According to table 5.2, the Age Norms for Motor Skills in Berger, p. 153, for his age of 15.5 months, 90% of all babies master the skill of walking. Beside being able to walk, just like the majority of infants at his age (from 1-2 years old), Ali is quite a toddler, "for the characteristic way they move their bodies, toddling from side to side." (Berger, p. 151). Still toddling but Ali obviously belongs to the upper half of the population in mastering his gross motorskill since he is also able to walk backward, a skill that only 50% of infant could master at his age according to again table 5.2. 3. Ali is quite a friendly kid, he is not ...

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Working Backwards to Create Tension in a Short Story

Working Backwards to Create Tension in a Short Story Edgar Allen Poe is one of the most prolific and well-known short story writers in American literature, and had much to say regarding the craft, particularly regarding the writers process. In addition to believing firmly that a literary work should be read in one sitting, in his essay, The Philosophy of Composition, Poe writes: Nothing is more clear than that every plot, worth the name, must be elaborated to its dà ©nouement before anything be attempted with the pen. It is only with the dà ©nouement constantly in view that we can give a plot its indispensable air of consequence, or causation, by making the incidents, and especially the tone at all points, tend to the development of the intention.It is within this concept of knowing the dà ©nouement that the writer overcomes the biggest challenge in writing a short story: namely, the challenge of compressing a meaningful tale into one sitting for the reader. This becomes especially difficult considering the modern reader, whose atte ntion span has become arguably shortened by multiple technological interruptions throughout the day. But the fact remains- if you wish to create a meaningful tale in fewer than 7,500 words, the best way to do it is by working backwards.But how do I actually do that?Knowing what to do and doing it are two different things, and if youve never done it, rest assured that working through the entire plot before writing your story might feel counterintuitive. However, the good news is that once you do it, the hard part of writing a short story is over; you can then focus on writing, which becomes much simpler when there is a clearly defined outline to work with.When I work backwards in writing a short story, I start by asking myself what major change or revelation I want to transpire or be revealed at the end. A word of warning: this could be the most tedious part of the process, because in essence, you are determining a storys thematic focus.After these questions have been answered and yo u have created a way to drive that theme home for your readers with a shocking or unnerving ending, you can then determine the best and most representative characters to complete those events or make those revelations. This is usually much easier to do than the aforementioned first step, because now, you have a thematic focus to work on and a solid base plot point (the conclusion) to build upon. Finding a character (or characters) to populate that plot is usually only a matter of looking for archetypes that fit your theme.What are the advantages?Although is almost goes against logic to write a story from the end, backwards, youll find several advantages to undergoing this process. For example, knowing the end allows the writer to do the following:Build suspense at a more correct pace- knowing how the story ends provides the opportunity to build suspense from the beginning, through foreshadowing and imagery from the very first sentence.Build a character around the plot rather than th e other way around- knowing a characters fate is highly useful in characterization techniques. Since short stories provide little opportunity for in-depth characterization, building a character around the plot rather than the other way around allows the writer to create a character who fits well into the short story genre.Write the storys arc then go back in to fill in details- this type of outline, if you will, allows the writer to create a more realistic arc. To use geometrical reference as metaphor, knowing the beginning and ending of an arc supplies the writer with the most obvious angle for drawing it.Building suspenseAccording to Poe, A short story must have a single mood and every sentence must build towards it. One of the greatest challenges for the short story writer, then, becomes determining this mood from the onset, and there is no easier way to achieve this task than to write (or at least know) the ending first. Working backwards from the end toward the beginning in you r thought process when creating the story then becomes more intuitive, and allows you to pick out events or conversations between characters along the way that serve to build suspense before the dà ©nouement.CharacterizationCharacterization isnt often a focus in short story writing, primarily because there is such limited space in which to develop a character. This mystery surrounding the character can work to your advantage, though, in that you can offer the reader a targeted, turbulent tour of the inner workings of a characters mind and then pull them right out again, while questions still remain. Its a process that makes the short story genre so uniquely powerful and appealing.The storys arcIf you work out the end before even beginning the first sentence of the story, youll likely be tempted to write the end first. This isnt necessarily a bad idea, and some short story writers swear its the best method. Having carefully planned out the ending- what the main character or main cha racters will see and experience- youll be more able to see the trajectory of plot and can more easily work backwards. This helps you avoid two of the most common pitfalls many writers face in the middle of writing a short story:Wandering off track with plot.Not being sure where to go next.With the end plainly in sight, and especially if details of the end are worked out in great depth, youll stay on track with plot and find a more suitable beginning that creates a well-paced short story plot line.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Summary Strong Response to Damation of a canyon article Essay

Summary Strong Response to Damation of a canyon article - Essay Example In this article, the author took an in-depth look at the ramifications of damming a place called Glen Canyon, a location on the border between Utah and Arizona, in order to create Lake Powell. In making his observations, the author managed to launch worldwide environmental concerns regarding the actual effects of dams on the greater community. As the author describes the setting of Glen Canyon as it existed naturally, he tells about a river trip he took down the Colorado River in this area in which the current of the river was sufficient to drive his raft nearly 150 miles in 10 days through a rich environment full of life. He then compares this experience with a couple of seasons he spent working as a seasonal park ranger at the Powell Lake reservoir. This establishes his credibility in having known the canyon both before and after the creation of the dam in this vicinity and thus able to assess the positive and negative changes that were brought about as a result. Having established his credibility as someone familiar with the area both before and after the industrial changes, Abbey then provides full disclosure telling his audience about his environmental interest and generalized anti-industrial stance. However, in making this admission, he also makes a feeble claim that there are a growing number of Americans who join him in these sentiments. While this would seem to weaken his argument, his further discussion reveals that there are well-founded reasons for him to feel the way he does as he launches the article into a more specific investigation of the effects of the construction of the dam. Abbey strengthens his argument against the dam by pointing out the environmental damage that had been realized by the dam. The first problem introduced by the dam is described most accurately as the ‘bathtub ring’ effect. The purpose of building the dam was primarily for the

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

How Culture affects Anthropology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

How Culture affects Anthropology - Essay Example Culture and society are different notions. If culture is a system of learned behavior perceptions and patterns, society is a group of interacting beings.   So animals also have societies. Though it is one of the prerogatives of human societies the ability to interact directly or indirectly with each other.   And one human society is distinguished from another one in terms of shared traditions and expectations.Despite the difference between human societies and cultures, they are closely interrelated because culture is created and transmitted to others in a society.   Cultures are not the product of separate individuals.   They are the permanently developing products of people interacting with each other.   Cultural patterns such as language and politics are useless except if they are not engaged in the interaction of people.   If you were the only human on earth, language or government would of no effect (Bernard, 1998, p. 14).The notion "culture" can be interpreted many d ifferent ways.   Some understand it as an opportunity to insight into a high-quality literature, art, music. Each science has its own understanding of culture. Cultural dimensions of logic, values and aesthetics are indeed of a great concern for philosophers. Social workers and people concerned themselves with the practical problems of minority groups also use this notion as a part of their stock in trade. Important research in medicine and in nutrition is oriented in cultural terms. On the other hand for anthropologists the notion "culture".... Cultures are not the product of separate individuals. They are the permanently developing products of people interacting with each other. Cultural patterns such as language and politics are useless except if they are not engaged in the interaction of people. If you were the only human on earth, language or government would of no effect (Bernard, 1998, p. 14). The notion "culture" can be interpreted many different ways. Some understand it as an opportunity to insight into a high-quality literature, art, music. Each science has its own understanding of culture. Cultural dimensions of logic, values and aesthetics are indeed of a great concern for philosophers. Social workers and people concerned themselves with the practical problems of minority groups also use this notion as a part of their stock in trade. Important research in medicine and in nutrition is oriented in cultural terms. On the other hand for anthropologists the notion "culture" generally means the full range of learned human behavior patterns (Bernard, 1998, p. 27). The term was first used in this meaning by the English anthropologist Edward B. Tylor. He defined culture as a complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, law, morals, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society. Of course, it is possessed and created not only by men but by women as well. The decisive term in this definition is "acquired." This underlines the feature that, as humans, we are not born with culture itself, but with the ability for culture. That is what we learn it, through our interactions and communication with other people in general. We practice the fundamental constituent of this learning in our childhood,

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Corporate Strategy Analysis Discussion Summary Essay Example for Free

Corporate Strategy Analysis Discussion Summary Essay â€Å"Corporate strategy identifies the set of businesses, markets, or industries in which the organization competes and the distribution of resources among those businesses† (Bateman Snell, 2011). There are four basic alternatives for corporate strategy. These strategies include concentration, vertical integration, concentric diversification and conglomerate diversification. Every company has their type of corporate strategy that they follow to include Coca-Cola, Xerox, Southwest Airlines, and VF. In 2004 Coca-Colas CEO Neville Isdell agrees to come out of retirement and becomes cokes new chief executive. Coca-Cola’s worse drop in sales at 24% resulted in the return of Neville Isdell (Foust, 2014). With the return of Neville, Coca-Cola agreed to use a corporate strategy of their own (vertical integration) when they bought Glaceau’s vitamin water. Coca-Cola also came out with their coffee cola (Coke Blak) and their green tea (Envigo). The decision to purchase vitamin water was vital to the increase of Coca-Cola’s sales and bring them back into competition with PepsiCo. Coca-Cola is using an aggressive strategy to expand globally with their carbonated and non-carbonated drinks. To this day Coca-Cola is still expanding with their products such as Fuze and Gold Peak tea. Anne Mulcahy began the transformation of Xerox by following a concentrated strategy by focusing on a single industry. She pursed concentrated strategy by first reducing Xerox nearly $18 billion in debt. She accomplished this by cutting billions of dollars through slashing of jobs and selling off divisions. Anne Mulcahy then evaluated alternatives by pouring resources into a consulting division; this made the company more accessible for potential clients and customers. She developed a new business strategic plan, although a risky choice helped the organization seize new opportunities or thwart challenges. She also closed the desk top printers division and moved away from expensive consumer  printers with functions nobody wanted. Xerox took new technology and moved into colored digital printing and started developing high end color commercial printers. Xerox made this decision because the profit margin of color pages was five times that of black and white copies. Xerox used the strategy of concentric diversification by moving into a new business that was related to the companys core business. Xerox then purchased office Services Company and Image Services for 1.5 billion dollars to demonstrate its new marketable high end color digital printers and copier services. References Bateman,T.S., Snell, S.A. (2011). Management:Leading collaborating in a competitive world (9th ed.). New York,NY: McGraw-Hill Irwin. Foust, D. (2014). Gone Flat. Retrieved from http://www.businessweek.com/stories/2004-12-19/gone-flat

Friday, November 15, 2019

The Donner Party and the American Character :: essays research papers

According to the thesis of Fredrick Jackson Turner, the frontier changed America. Americans, from the earliest settlement, were always on the frontier, for they were always expanding to the west. It was Manifest Destiny; spreading American culture westward was so apparent and so powerful that it couldn’t be stopped. Turner’s Frontier Theory says that this continuous exposure to the frontier has shaped the American character. The frontier made the American settlers revert back to the primitive, stripping them from their European culture. They then created something brand new; it’s what we know today as the American character. Turner argues that we, as a culture, are a product of the frontier. The uniquely American personality includes such traits as individualism, futuristic, democratic, aggressiveness, inquisitiveness, materialistic, expedite, pragmatic, and optimistic. And perhaps what exemplifies this American personality the most is the story of the Donner Pa rty.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When their journey began in 1846, the members of the Donner and Reed families had high hopes of reaching California, and they would settle at nothing less. Their dream of making a new life for themselves represented great determination. When their packed wagons rolled out of Springfield, Missouri, they thought of their future lives in California. The Reed family’s two-story wagon was actually called the â€Å"pioneer palace car†, because it was full of everything imaginable including an iron stove and cushioned seats and bunks for sleeping. They didn’t want to leave their materialistic way of life at home.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  However, the Donner Party also possessed the American trait of expediency, which ultimately caused their party many deaths. Taking the advice of Lansford Hastings, the author of The Emigrants’ Guide to Oregon and California, the Donner Party took the supposed new and faster route that cut under the Great Salt Lake to California. However, even when they were trapped under several feet of Sierra Nevada snows, they didn’t give up; perseverance and optimism prevailed. Soon after many days trapped in makeshift shelters beneath the mountains, the emigrants ran out of food. With their pragmatic minds, they ate every bit of their oxen they could including boiled hides and charred bones. Being practical, they also ate bark, twigs, and leaves. They had to eat something; it was still survival of the fittest.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Some members of the Donner Party were courageous and determined enough to venture over the mountains to California to get relief. A small group set out, along with two Indian guides.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Porter’s Five Forces Model versus A Blue Ocean Strategy Essay

Porter’s Five Forces Model, provided by Michael Porter, is an external environmental analysis tool for a specific market. This model emphasizes that in any existing industry, there are five competition forces: threat of new entrants, power of suppliers, power of customers, threat of substitute products, and intensity of competitive rivalry. In addition, these five forces can influence and determine the profitability of the enterprise. Using the five forces model, one can analyze the industry attractiveness and the level of competition, which can then help the company to develop the business strategy. In the real world, strategic analysis and strategy formulations are important for company to gain the profitability. For example, IKEA focuses on operating efficiently and developing new product continuously for their business strategies. Also, the Five Forces Model has helped IKEA to maintain its low cost and obtain the huge profitability in the furniture industry over the years. The Blue Ocean Strategy takes the view that innovation, innovation that creates new market space, taps into unsatisfied consumer demand that finds uncontested market space in the hope of finding a blue ocean. A blue ocean exists where no firms currently operate, leaving the company to expand without competition. The core strategy is the value innovation, which means that the company should create new demand and make the competition irrelevant. In short, the company needs to pursue unique product or service differentiation and low cost simultaneously, in order to capture the untapped market. Moreover, it is significant to create new value that can rebuild the buyer value elements and capture new demand. As the number of firms that come into the market, the market is actually expanded, and they are filling an entrepreneurial role in bringing innovation into the market. In pioneering new markets, it is often the followers that cash in. Eg. Microsoft in relation to the computer interface, iTunes in relation to  portable music. These companies were followers and employed adaptive innovation in   terms of these new markets. Most of the firms are innovating in incremental stages. The type of  innovation that you have to look at is doesn’t have to be the big, radical, revolutionary type of innovation. It is more incremental & adaptive. The aim is grow demand and pull in new and non-customers into the industry. You stop competing and create products and services and offerings that have no alternative from the buyer’s point of view. In the real world, people usually are not interested in repeated experience. For example, Cirque de Soleil created a brand-new circus performance by reconstructing market boundaries, focusing on the whole situation, and reaching beyond existing demand. Company Summary A one time accordion player, stilt walker, and fire-eater, Guy Laliberte is the founder of Cirque Du Soleil, one of Canada’s largest cultural exports. Created in 1984 by a group of 20 street performers, Cirque Du Soleil has achieved a level of revenues that took Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey (the Global Champion of the circus industry) over 100 years to attain. Cirque du Soleil is now a major Quebec-based organization providing high-quality artistic entertainment. The company has close to 4,000 employees, including 1,300 performing artists from close to 50 different countries. Cirque du Soleil has brought wonder and delight to close to 150 million spectators in more than 300 cities in over forty countries on six continents. Cirque du Soleil’s Blue Ocean Strategy Cirque du Soleil’s success did not come from taking customers from the already shrinking and structurally unattractive circus industry, which historically catered to children. There was also rising sentiment, fueled by animal rights groups, against the use of animals, traditionally an integral part of the circus. Cirque du Soleil did not compete with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey. Instead it created uncontested new market space that made the competition irrelevant. It pulled in a whole new group of customers who were traditionally noncustomers of the industry—adults and corporate clients who had turned to theater, opera, or ballet and were, therefore, prepared to pay several times more than the price of a conventional circus ticket for an unprecedented entertainment experience. Significantly, one of the first Cirque productions was titled â€Å"We Reinvent the Circus.† Cirque offered the  best of both circus and theater. By eliminating many of the most expensive elements of the circus, it was able to dramatically reduce its cost structure, achieving both differentiation and low cost. How did Cirque du Soleil create new value? They addressed each of the value creation factors: Cirque du Soleil had followed the Blue Ocean Logic: Create a quantum leap in buyer value and this will dominate the market. Their Blue Ocean Strategy was a success.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Multi-state E.coli Outbreak

A person having diarrhea with loose stools greater than 3 bowel movements in a day with or without abdominal cramps, who is a resident of Michigan, having onset of symptoms between the 15th of June and 15th of July and the   stool cultures yielding E.coli 157:H7. (Lautenbach, E., 2008).   (Multistate Outbreak of E.coli O157:H7 Infection, 2008)It is an infection leading to severe abdominal cramps and bloody diarrhea. Non bloody diarrhea can also occur, or it may also be that the patient will have no symptomatic complaints. The causative organism is E.coli O157:H7 which has an incubation period of 3 to 8 days with a median of 3-4 days. (Lautenbach, E. 2008).   . In people in extremes of age groups I.e. elderly and children under 5 years of age, the infection can also lead to complications like Hemolytic uremic syndrome.AdvantagesBy including a lab test as criteria for case confirmation, the specificity of the case definition increases hence the power of the test increases and so do the chances to detect the source.DisadvantagesInvestigation: by making lab investigations like stool cultures and PFGE a criterion, people who had the symptoms but were not able to visit the doctor were not counted as having the disease, hence the sensitivity of the definition decreased.By only taking residents of Michigan into consideration, people who were visitors and might have got infected were excluded from the count.Slight alterations could be made to the case definition.Proposed Case DefinitionA person having diarrhea with loose stools greater than 3 bowel movements in a day with or without abdominal cramps. The person may be a resident or may have visited Michigan a week prior to having onset of symptoms between the 15th of June and 15th of July. A person with clinically compatible picture who is epidemiologically linked with a confirmed case of E.coli infection. The stool cultures yielding E.coli 157:H7.The lab testing requirement still has to remains, to ensure specifi city and power of the definition.Comparison between age groups:In the Michigan outbreak, it was noted that more than twice as many females were infected as were males. People in age groups of 20-39 and 40-59 were reported most frequent cases in the Michigan outbreak. Food net on the other hand reported nation wide distribution of cases almost equally in males and females, i.e. 162 to 178 respectively. They also documented that largest segmented of population infected in 1997 was in the age group of 1-9 years.This pattern shows that in the Michigan outbreak, the source most probably started with some sort of interaction between source and the adult females of age between 20-59years.  Inquiry about diseaseE.coli infection is mainly an oral-fecal transmission pathway. Hence poorly chlorinated water, unpasteurized milk are common fluid sources. Uncooked or improperly cooked beef another forms of meat are another likely source of transmission. Vegetables directly from farms or stores, which are not properly washed, like lettuce, spinach alfalfa etc are another source of infection. (Escherichia coli O157:H7, 2005).   Exposure to farm animals, or contact with infected people are also risk factors. In the United States infected children in daycare centers also a major source of spread. So questions pertaining to contact and handling of the above stated risk factors should be asked.Source of the outbreak according to the currently present evidence is alfalfa sprouts. Contaminated alfalfa seeds initially caused the outbreak and then the infection easily spread through person to person transfer. The leading hypothesis is that contaminated alfalfa sprouts or seeds of alfalfa sprouts were the initial cause of the outbreak.People who consumed these foods in the area of Michigan got infected with E.coli O157:H7 and then the infection were further transferred to other people with whom they came into contact.REFFERENCES:Escherichia coli O157:H7 (2005). Division of Bacteria l and Mycotic Diseases, Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved March 6, 2008, from http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/escherichiacoli_t.htmLautenbach, E. (2008).   Outbreak Investigation: Discussion Group. Pennsylvania department of health. Retrieved March 6, 2008, from http://www.dsf.health.state.pa.us/health/lib/health/Outbreak_Investigation.ppt.Multistate Outbreak of E.coli O157:H7 Infection, (2008). Foodsafety.net  Retrieved March 6, 2008, from http://www.foodsafetynet.info/NEHA/EpiSlides/Ecoli_122803.ppt.   

Friday, November 8, 2019

The US Landforms essays

The US Landforms essays This part of the United State is covered with a variety of landforms. The Coastal Plains are covered with swamps and estuaries. Piedmont is covered with hard rocks, which meets softer coastal plains. The Appalachian Highlands offers gaps and thin, stony soil for farmers. The East and Southern United States' bodies of water are none other then the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. The climate of this area offers hotter and longer summers and the winters are colder and harsher. Precipitation is fairly even. Heavier precipitation is found in the warmer months. The plants found in this part of the United States are mostly needle-leaf and hardwood. Here are the examples of needle-leaf plants listed in our book: cedar, spruce, and leaf shedding. Here are the examples of hardwood: elm, oak, maple, ash, hickory, pine, and cypress. These are very popular in the Eastern and Southern part. Black bears, deers, moose, foxes, wildcats, and muskrats are mostly found in this area. The Central Plains include vast grasslands that rise gradually toward the forested foothill, Ozart Mountains, semi-deserts, and bleaker and emptier prairies. The Great Plains rise gradually to meet the Rocky Mountains, which are interrupted by steep hills and gullies known as the Badland. There are only two bodies of water in the Central Heartland and they are the Mississippi River and the Great Lakes. In the summer it can reach about 100 degrees Fahrenheit and drop to -40 degrees Fahrenheit. The ocean has a moderating influence on weather patterns. This section of the U.S. is known for its extreme climates. The annual rainfall is moderate but less plentiful then the Atlantic seaboard. The Mississippi River has a steady rainfall. The Great P ...

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

How to Use Charts, Graphs, and Maps for Information

How to Use Charts, Graphs, and Maps for Information Many people find frequency tables, crosstabs, and other forms of numerical statistical results intimidating. The same information can usually be presented in graphical form, which makes it easier to understand and less intimidating. Graphs tell a story with visuals rather than in words or numbers and can help readers understand the substance of the findings rather than the technical details behind the numbers. There are numerous graphing options when it comes to presenting data. Here we will take a look at the most popularly used: pie charts, bar graphs, statistical maps, histograms, and frequency polygons. Pie Charts A pie chart is a graph that shows the differences in frequencies or percentages among categories of a nominal or ordinal variable. The categories are displayed as segments of a circle whose pieces add up to 100 percent of the total frequencies. Pie charts are a great way to graphically show a frequency distribution. In a pie chart, the frequency or percentage is represented both visually and numerically, so it is typically quick for readers to understand the data and what the researcher is conveying. Bar Graphs Like a pie chart, a bar graph is also a way to visually show the differences in frequencies or percentages among categories of a nominal or ordinal variable. In a bar graph, however, the categories are displayed as rectangles of equal width with their height proportional to the frequency of percentage of the category. Unlike pie charts, bar graphs are very useful for comparing categories of a variable among different groups. For example, we can compare marital status among U.S. adults by gender. This graph would, thus, have two bars for each category of marital status: one for males and one for females. The pie chart does not allow you to include more than one group. You would have to create two separate pie charts, one for females and one for males. Statistical Maps Statistical maps are a way to display the geographic distribution of data. For example, let’s say we are studying the geographic distribution of the elderly persons in the United States. A statistical map would be a great way to visually display our data. On our map, each category is represented by a different color or shade and the states are then shaded depending on their classification into the different categories. In our example of the elderly in the United States, let’s say we had four categories, each with its own color: Less than 10 percent (red), 10 to 11.9 percent (yellow), 12 to 13.9 percent (blue), and 14 percent or more (green). If 12.2 percent of Arizona’s population is over 65 years old, Arizona would be shaded blue on our map. Likewise, if Florida’s has 15 percent of its population aged 65 and older, it would be shaded green on the map. Maps can display geographical data on the level of cities, counties, city blocks, census tracts, countries, states, or other units. This choice depends on the researcher’s topic and the questions they are exploring. Histograms A histogram is used to show the differences in frequencies or percentages among categories of an interval-ratio variable. The categories are displayed as bars, with the width of the bar proportional to the width of the category and the height proportional to the frequency or percentage of that category. The area that each bar occupies on a histogram tells us the proportion of the population that falls into a given interval. A histogram looks very similar to a bar chart, however, in a histogram, the bars are touching and may not be of equal width. In a bar chart, the space between the bars indicates that the categories are separate. Whether a researcher creates a bar chart or a histogram depends on the type of data he or she is using. Typically, bar charts are created with qualitative data (nominal or ordinal variables) while histograms are created with quantitative data (interval-ratio variables). Frequency Polygons A frequency polygon is a graph showing the differences in frequencies or percentages among categories of an interval-ratio variable. Points representing the frequencies of each category are placed above the midpoint of the category and are joined by a straight line. A frequency polygon is similar to a histogram, however, instead of bars, a point is used to show the frequency and all the points are then connected with a line. Distortions in Graphs When a graph is distorted, it can quickly deceive the reader into thinking something other than what the data really says. There are several ways that graphs can be distorted. Probably the most common way that graphs get distorted is when the distance along the vertical or horizontal axis is altered in relation to the other axis. Axes can be stretched or shrunk to create any desired result. For example, if you were to shrink the horizontal axis (X axis), it could make the slope of your line graph appear steeper than it actually is, giving the impression that the results are more dramatic than they are. Likewise, if you expanded the horizontal axis while keeping the vertical axis (Y axis) the same, the slope of the line graph would be more gradual, making the results appear less significant than they really are. When creating and editing graphs, it is important to make sure the graphs do not get distorted. Oftentimes, it can happen by accident when editing the range of numbers in an axis, for example. Therefore it is important to pay attention to how the data comes across in the graphs and make sure the results are being presented accurately and appropriately, so as to not deceive the readers. Resources and Further Reading Frankfort-Nachmias, Chava, and Anna Leon-Guerrero. Social Statistics for a Diverse Society. SAGE, 2018.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Evaluate the potential effectiveness of ECB's monetary policy decision Essay

Evaluate the potential effectiveness of ECB's monetary policy decision on the recent quantitative easing programme within the Rurozone economy - Essay Example le tend to borrow less thus decreasing consumption of goods and services in the market as the income in household decreases, this reduces the rate of demand of goods and services making unemployment a major issue as people are retrenched and companies do not employ people (Tenreyro, 2008). This in turn affects the GDP of the country negatively. This paper focuses on the Eurozone and the effects of the Quantitative Easing policy introduced by the European Central Bank. The Eurozone is a term used to refer to all the countries that use the Euro as their means of trade within Europe. It compromises of 17 countries which are Germany, Austria, France, Belgium, Finland, Spain, Slovenia, Portugal, Slovakia, Italy, Malta, Cyprus, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Estonia, Greece and Ireland (Gunyà ©, 2004), each with very different economies. Some are developed while others are struggling to find their place in the market making it very difficult to have a one size policy that’s fits all. Some countries like Germany do have a stronger economy (Anderson, 2012) compared to others like Greece that have a developing or not very well established economy. These countries within the Eurozone like all other countries have their central bank named the European Central bank which was established in 1998 to regulate prices of commodities espe cially equities through making monetary policies for countries within the Eurozone (Dominguez, 2006). The first monetary policy effected by the Euro zone in 2008 (Erà §etin, 2014) leading to a euro crisis as the ECB increased the rates of borrowing making achieving loans for financiers of firms or clients very difficult (Ciro, 2013). This lead to fewer consumption of goods and services by consumers that affected the demand curve as consumption reduced which eventually lead to inflation. This ended up affecting the rate of the currency the Euro as domestically produced goods became more expensive than the imports also affecting inflation, unemployment

Friday, November 1, 2019

Dq 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Dq 2 - Essay Example DNP, on the other hand, equip students with adequate assessment knowledge to evaluate the impact of research of this discipline (Glasgow and Dreher, 2011). The curriculum of DNP relent its focus to a practical interpretation of the research findings into improving all the necessary systems that are used in maintenance of the patient care as well as determining the outcomes from the society. The degree for PhD has got a scientific perspective, which is meant to develop the graduates in formation of research teams who use the knowledge of the research in addressing the chronic diseases and patients care systems. Before a graduate is awarded a doctorate degree, DNP graduates must show that they have learnt financial management and budgeting plan while PhD students, however, concentrate on research methods, data and statistical analysis. DNP students can be absorbed in the job opportunity such as health-care administrator or clinical nurses while PhD graduates are bestowed as nurse scientists (Glasgow & Dreher, 2011). Because of the passion and adoration of care to patients and less fortunate members of the society, DNP becomes a preferred choice of course compared to PhD. This is because people are involved in a more practical approach which in turn enhances relationships, polishes skills while people earn at the same time (Pagana,

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

An internet based company research project for my Business management Essay

An internet based company research project for my Business management class - Essay Example The conclusion section summarizes the main ideas presented in the paper, and makes inferences where appropriate. Highlights of the paper include: a background of the company; its nature, mission and products, a description of the current financial standing; earnings or losses of the company, an overview of the problems and issues the company was subjected to, an investigation of the companys current and future business strategies, a summary and conclusions. Johnson & Johnson was established in 1886 in the New Jersey State. The company is very committed to innovative healthcare products (Johnson & Johnson, 2009). This has greatly contributed to the company’s consistent financial performance. Johnson & Johnson has enjoyed dividend increases for 47 consecutive years, adjusted earning increases for 25 consecutive years and sales increases for 76 consecutive years. Johnson & Johnson employs about 119,000 across the world and is involved in manufacturing and selling of healthcare products in a number of countries across the world. The company’s main interest, both currently and historically, is in products that are related to well-being and health (Johnson & Johnson, 2009). Johnson & Johnson strongly believes decentralized management principles, which it practices. The company’s executive committee is its principal management group, which ensures effective and efficient operations of the company. Furthermore, a number of members of the Executive Committee are also Group Operating Committee chairpersons. This committee comprises of management experts in a number of specialized functions and managers representing main operations within this group. The Committees are charged with the responsibility of overseeing and coordinating both international and domestic activities related to every Professional, Pharmaceutical and Consumer segments of

Monday, October 28, 2019

A foodborne disease that is estimated to have infected one third of the human population Essay Example for Free

A foodborne disease that is estimated to have infected one third of the human population Essay Toxoplasmosis is a foodborne disease that is estimated to have infected one third of the human population (2). Not only does Toxoplasmosis infect humans, but it is also been found in almost all of the warm-blooded animals, primarily cats (3). Toxoplasmosis was first found in 1908 by Nicolle and Manceaux in the cells of the gundi, a type of rodent, in Brazil. It was also found by Splendore to be in the tissues of a rabbit. Fifteen years later, in 1923, a fatal case of toxoplasmosis was reported in a child. Finally in 1939, toxoplasmosis was identified as a cause of human disease (2). Toxoplasmosis seemed to first be described by Toxoplasmosis is caused by a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii. Toxoplasma gondii has two   types of hosts, a definitive and an intermediate. Cats are the only definitive hosts for Toxoplasma gondii meaning that only when the parasite infects the cat will it produce oocysts (eggs). Toxoplasma gondii will not produce eggs in other warm-blooded animals. When the cat digests food that contains this parasite, the Toxoplasma gondii inside of the cat will be released into the digestive tract where it will then multiply and produce oocysts in the small intestine. This process is called intraintestinal infection cycle. The parasite is released in large quantities through the feces. The cat will also start shedding oocysts after 3 days of being infected and will continue to shed for 10 to 14 days. T he oocysts are very resilient and can survive up to a year. Other oocysts in the cat penetrate deeper into the intestine and develop tachyzoite which is the parasite’s form of rapid growth. The tachyzoite spreads throughout the body and start the extraintestinal infection cycle. When the immune system responds, the tachyzoite go into their resting stage and become bradyzoites, which is a slow growing form (3). A human or any other intermediate host can then be exposed to the parasite through either eating meat contaminated with the parasite or accidently (or not) swallowing cat feces (1). The oocysts are not immediately infectious as they must first go through a process called sporulation which takes from one to five days. Once the sporulated oocysts are in the intermediate host, they develop tissue cysts which stay in the host for life (3). When Toxoplasma gondii enters the human host, tachyzoites begin to develop and infect various organs. The parasite then enters the brain and creates oocysts. It then establishes a â€Å"chronic infection† which taxes the immune system (4). Toxoplasmosis usually doesn’t show any for most people. Severe cases of toxoplasmosis usually develop in babies whose mother was infected by toxoplasmosis or by people with compromised immune systems such as people with HIV. Some people with mild cases of toxoplasmosis may exhibit flu-like symptoms with swollen nymph glands along with sore muscles for a month or more. However, the severe cases can cause individuals to develop encephalitis along with eye and other organ damage. Patients may begin to experience pain that is accompanied by a bright light along with reduced vision and redness of the eye (1). Toxoplasmosis 1 http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/toxoplasmosis/ 2 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2704023/?tool=pubmed 3 http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/brochures/toxo.html 4 http://schizophreniabulletin.oxfordjournals.org/content/33/3/745.full Penicillium chrysogenum 5 http://botit.botany.wisc.edu/toms_fungi/nov2003.html 6 http://www.biology.ed.ac.uk/research/groups/jdeacon/microbes/penicill.htm 7 http://bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203/s2008/kitzmann_step/

Friday, October 25, 2019

My Philosophy of Teaching :: Philosophy of Education

Philosophy I have for several years played with the idea of becoming a teacher. I started my college education over twenty years ago and within this period of time, I have had the pleasure of raising my own children and being involved with hundreds of other children at the elementary school level, as a little league coach of basketball and softball. And the most important lesson I learned was that at this stage of a child’s life their self worth and self esteem, are so very important in the building blocks for adolescence and young adulthood. I feel that for a child with good education foundation, the sky is the limit in what they can accomplish in their lifetime. I feel that we lose so many children within our educational system by the sixth grade, because the foundation blocks are not solidly laid. We as teachers must start to rethink the material and content we are using to build these students educational foundation and make sure it is the very best we as educators can give our stude nts. As a pre-service teacher I feel that I would contribute to the education, self-esteem, and self worth of all children that would pass through my classroom. This fact alone is one of the greatest influences on me to enter the teaching profession. This makes me want to give something back. My classroom would be set up in a traditional style, desk in linear rows facing front of classroom, my desk would in a corner position so that I could observe all my students. My bulletin boards would show several different cultures of people and many different lands. Computer and Internet access would be part of my classroom supplement materials, alone with audio/visual equipment. My teaching styles would be a blending of two philosophies, I would use an eclectic style of teaching. Traditional to facilitating, essentialism to progressive, idealism and pragmatism. For I feel is the job of the teacher to create a learning environment for each an every student to make them want to learn.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Hiding Behind the Mask

As a non-traditional student attending college, I sometimes ponder on how I have secluded myself. I am taking both online and face-to-face classes, and seem to hide my fears one time or another. Like Paul Laurence Dunbar in his poem, â€Å"We Wear the Mask† I can tell that different types of people do hide behind the mask rather than being honest with themselves, because I seem to do that also, whether it is to save ourselves or the feelings of another. When I participate in my online classes, I seem to say things in discussions that I wouldn’t say in a face-to-face setting, so I seem to hide behind a mask while in my classes. The mask hides my fears, and emotions that I would be ashamed to show otherwise. As in â€Å"We Wear the Mask† they also have fears, and emotions, but their fears are of the history that they have suffered. We all seem to put on fake faces and pretend for many different reasons. As an argument, however, I hide behind a mask not for negativity or intentional, but it does allow me to respond with my real thoughts and ideas. Dunbar’s mask is used to hide their true selves behind grins, and lies. However, I believe many people hide behind a mask because of being ashamed to show a part of their real identities, or because of a lie in one form or another. I believe one should learn from the past, and take off the mask so that you can clearly see what lies ahead.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Labor Unions in US

Labor Unions must be understood in the context of the economic structures that occurred within the United States and included the agrarian, industrial, and post industrial period (Cohen 27). In the year 1700, there were approximately 220,000 people living in the United States and approximately 95% were farmers (94 Almanac 53). The farmers comprised small communities and at that time there was no need for Unions as we know them today. Some of the earliest Unions were created in the 1700's when the shoemakers in Philadelphia formed a Trade Union for the purpose of regulating the wages that they would pay an apprentice and establish the length of time that apprenticeship would be necessary (Leap 29). In the mid-1700's small cities began to grow along the east coast of the United States. Although the cities began to grow, the society was still agrarian in nature (Cohen 28). As the country entered he industrial revolution, the population began to migrate to the cities (Cohen 28). The industrial revolution experienced a need for coal, oil, and food production, especially the meat packing industry (Cohen 29). The needs centered around the railroads which expanded greatly during the 1850's (Rogers 7). During this period the railroads became dependent upon massive amounts of information and organization to effectively run their operations. It is during this time period that the railroads developed management practices that included formalized accounting procedures and management techniques for supervisors dealing with the many people employed by the railroad (Rogers 7). In addition, the railroads began to establish their own codes, rules and regulations for operating the railroads (Yates 153). In 1910, the population of the United States had grown to 92. 2 million people (Census Bureau 26). Industry was expanding at a rapid rate and the companies that controlled them pushed for greater profits and efficiency. Industries also published their own magazine, such as â€Å"Factory Magazine† that was aimed at reaching a higher level of production (Yates 105). Also include for the first time were magazine articles written to improve the morale of the factory worker in an attempt to humanize the workforce through articles and illustrations (Yates 74). However, these article were also an attempt to educate the work force in the policies and procedures of the company. Many of these companies also had constructed â€Å"company towns† where the factory workers were employed, resided in company owned buildings in which they paid rent, bought food and clothing in company owned stores and also company provided recreation (Leap 32). Many of the factory workers, almost one-third, were uneducated immigrants that could not speak the American language and were frequently taken advantage of economically (Leap 30). The early 1900's also brought mass manufacturing and the interchangeable parts for equipment and machinery to the industries, based on the efforts of Henry Ford (Cohen 28). The United States had become the industrial leader of the world. The industrial giants in the United States gained so much control over their employees that the workers conformed to the organizational culture of that company (Gibson 29). Management theories and social theories during the early 1900's concentrated on managements side and the more effective production methods. In 1911, Frederick Taylor wrote â€Å"The Principles of Scientific Management† that emphasized time and motion studies, breaking large jobs into smaller ones and analyzing repetitive tasks in an attempt to find a more efficient way of doing the job. An employees pay quickly became dependent upon how many pieces could be produced in an hour or a day (French 69). Working conditions in factories were deplorable, with long hours, child labor and numerous industrial accidents that claimed many lives The issues that surrounded the early labor movement were centered around the redistribution of wealth of the companies that employees worked for. The labor movement in the United States began very slowly due to the oppressive actions taken by the large companies against the labor activists, which included firing employees, beatings, and killings. During the late 1860's to the 1930's, government actions supported big business believing that Unions would only interfere with private ownership (Cohen 113). Between 1876 and 1896, there were more injuries and deaths due to strikes in the United States than in any other nation in the world (Cohen 114). Companies hired private guards and security specialists to break up any strikers and protect company property (Cohen 114). Violence often was the result of result of early attempts at organizing labor movements. A riot in Baltimore lasted three days and claimed 13 lives. In Pittsburgh 20 people died as federal troops fired upon rioting workers and fires destroyed millions of dollars of railroad equipment (Leap 32). Violence also was occurring at the coal-mining companies when and secret societies such as the Molly Maguires that would threaten, beat or kill strike breaker at coal mines. Additionally the Molly Maguires, who often concealed their identity by dressing as as women, beat, killed and set fires to the homes of the supervisors and coal-mine superintendents who were not in agreement with the union cause. The Molly Maquires were broken up when the Pinkereton Detective Agency infiltrated the organization and exposed them which resulted in 14 Molly Maguires being tried and hanged (Leap 34). The public viewed much of this violence with an anti-union response, making it more difficult for the employees to unionize (Leap 33). With the population at over 92 million people in 1914, many who were now working in factories, the government began to recognize labor and created the Department of Labor in 1914 (Cohen 115). However, it was not until 1934 and the passage of the Wagner Act did labor really begin to unionize (Cohen 115). In addition, the government created the National Labor Relations Board to oversee union elections (Cohen 115). The Wagner Act allowed for employees to unionize and also allowed for the â€Å"closed shop† that required all employees of that factory or company to belong to the union once the union was voted in by the employees (Cohen 116). The Wagner Act legally permitted unions to organize and provide the much needed benefits for their employees. The goals of the unions during this time were to protect the jobs of their members and fight for increased wages and benefits (Leap 37). The benefits included safer working conditions, health care, sick leave, and vacation time (Leap 37). During these years the American Federation of Labor (AFL) became the largest single federation that began to organize craft unions. In 1938 the industrial unions were dissatisfied with the AFL federation and split off to form the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO), which sought to organize more unskilled labor (Leap 46). After World War II, the United States had approximately fifteen million workers that belonged to unions. In 1946, the United States experienced more labor strikes than ever before in history and the labor unions finally had a firm hold on large industrial and manufacturing companies (Leap 47). The Wager Act had provided the unions with a great deal of leverage and some unions quickly became corrupt and had very little accountability within their organization (Leap 48). The Taft-Hartley Act was passed in 1947 which was designed to curb some of the activities of unions and provide for unfair labor laws against the union that would be enforced by the National Labor Relations Board (Leap 48). The Taft-Hartley Act was successful in re-balancing the Wagner Act that gave the unions an unfair advantage of management (Leap 73). The Act also gave the President of the United States the authority to impose an 80-day injunction on any strike that may result in damage to the national economy or national interests (Infoplease 1). The injunctions have been used frequently in the transportation industry, where a strike against the railroads or the shipping industry could effect the distribution of food, clothing, or fuel, that could impact the economic structure of the country (Infoplease 1-2). In addition the Taft-Hartley act prohibited jurisdictional strikes involving two unions attempting to gain control over company employees for the right to represent them in collective bargaining (Infoplease 1-2). The Taft-Hartley Act prohibited the use of coercion by union officials to force employees to join the union, set the guide lines for bargaining in good faith with management, prohibited secondary boycotts that involved unions striking or boycotting products and materials of other companies that management held an interest, and prohibited excessive union dues from its membership. The unions reached their highest membership in 1954 reaching approximately 32% of all non-agricultural workers in America (Cohen 119). The following year the AFL and CIO Federations merged to make one large federation called the AFL-CIO (Cohen 119). What made the Unions so popular up to 1954 and what caused their decline? Early unions attempted to seek higher wages, less working hours, better and safer working conditions (Leap 51). Early unions also recognized the working conditions of the employees were critical to the production effort and experiments like the Hawthorne Experiment proved this to be true. In 1927 a team of Harvard researchers conducted experiments at Western Electric†s Hawthorne Electric Plant near Chicago, Illinois (Stillman 157). The tests were designed to discover the most effective way to motivate workers and these tests began the human relations era in organizational theory and development (Stillman 157). What was discovered after a five year study was that the interaction between the workers themselves and the with their supervisors, had more impact on the production levels than did wages or type of physical plant that they worked in (Stillman 158). Most of what was need by the workers was the social acceptance and feeling of worth among co-workers and bosses (Stillman 158). In every work area the individuals formed themselves into groups that have their own customs, duties, and localities to each other and management (Stillman 167). The attention given to the workers by management created a team effort that produced exceptional results on the assembly lines (Stillman 167). The Hawthorne experiment developed the human relations model of management for dealing with workers that existed from the 1930's to the 1960's, and in some variation still exists today (French 70). Training for interpersonal skills to â€Å"humanize† the workplace Unions continued to initially prosper as they also followed the developments of social researchers as Abraham Maslow, who in 1954 presented his view in human motivation (French 71). What resulted is called â€Å"Maslow†s Theory of Self-Actualization† where Maslow outlines the basic human needs for survival, then the need of safety and security, followed by the need for social acceptance and belonging, to the forth level of self-esteem, and the fifth level of self-actualization or self-fulfillment in doing one†s work (Halloran 104-108). The unions quickly adapted to the needs and desires of its membership and sought for issues such as respect in the workplace, health and safety issues, sexual harassment policies, equal pay for equal work, and generous leave time allowing for recreational activities. The Unions also became a culture within themselves, sponsoring community events for its members such as bazaars, summer picnics, Christmas parties, and scholarships programs for eligible dependent children of its members. The Unions provided community structure and support for its membership when those needs were necessary (Leap 49). The humanist approach to negotiating worked well for the unions in their negotiations with management. The more progressive companies such as IBM provided benefits that could out perform the best of unions and therefore IBM never experienced a serious threat to unionize because the work force needs were met under Maslow†s Theory (Halloran 315). Other large organizations such as the Japanese automobile maker Nissan, has also met the workers needs and therefore has built cars in the United States without the being unionized by the United Auto Workers Union, which is one of the largest and strongest unions remaining in North America (Halloran 315). The decline of labor unions began in the mid-1950's as many of the needs of the workers were being met, either through the company†s individual effort or the passage of federal and state laws that enhanced the workers position in life. Some of the laws passed were the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) in 1970 that provides for safe and healthy work environments for employees (Leap 90). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) function is to make sure that the environment is regulated concerning emissions from cars and factories, which directly effects the workers that must work in those factories (Kuennan 4). The Fair Labor Standards Act brought into existence the minimum wage rate, established a 40 hour work week for hourly wage employee wages and also provided overtime at a one-and-one-half the normal hourly rate. The Act defined the number of hours that a child could work each week and restricted the type of employment that a child could engage in (Leap 89). Additional acts such as the Equal Pay Act was aimed at women in the work force as required equal pay for equal work. The Pregnancy Discrimination Act required that an employer treat the pregnancy as a temporary disability and to provide appropriate benefits (Kuennen 5). The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) also covered other disabilities and declared that discrimination against the disabled is illegal. The ADA also required that public buildings and private buildings that are open to the public, be handicap accessible, giving them unrestricted access (Leap 88). Discrimination laws, including sex, age, and disability discrimination, were issues that the unions previously fought to get for their membership are now being provided by federal and state law (Kuennan 5). The decline of the unions can also be attributed to the post-industrial age in the United States. Since the mid-1970's manufacturing has been leaving the United States and relocating in foreign countries where labor costs are much cheaper. Manufacturing such as steel production, clothing and textiles, and ship building have relocated to foreign countries over the past two decades (Cohen 110). The unions lobbied heavily against such trade agreements as the North American Free Trade Association (NAFTA) that created a free trading zone with the United States, Canada, and Mexico to avoid tariffs (Cohen 119). Many of the industrial jobs that were once in the United States are now in Mexico and even oversees (Cohen 119). While the unions have lost membership in the industrial and manufacturing areas, they have had some success in unionizing government workers (Cohen 120). The unions have targeted teachers, college and university professors, police, fire and other government workers such as the postal workers (Cohen 120). The latest groups to attempt unionization are the nurses, doctors and dentists within the health fields (Guadagnino 1). The public perception of unions was favorable during the mid-60's with approximately 70% of the people showing positive attitudes toward the unions. However, the public has lost a great deal of trust in the unions as corruption and a general feeling of not needing unions has evolved. By 1988 the confidence level or approval rate that was once 70% had dropped to 13% (Cohen 121). The public also blamed the unions for the high inflation in the 1970's and early 1980's in which the public believes that the unions drove up the prices of goods and services by their demands during contract negotiations. The non-union worker however suffered from this inflation while the unions upper level executives were getting paid salaries over $100,000 (Cohen 121). Governments also began to become more conservative in their treatment of unions. An example of this was in the early 1980's when the federal Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO) when out on strike and crippled the airline industry. PATCO went on strike to seek better working hours and to force the federal government to hire additional air traffic controllers to help reduce the stress levels of the current air traffic controllers. The Reagan administration took quick action and fired all the air traffic controllers and immediately used military personnel until new employees could be trained (Cohen 122). The population of the United States is over 270 million people as of March of 1999 and only 14% of the work force is unionized. This work force includes government employees of which 44% are union members (Dine 1). The culture of the population has changed dramatically and a great deal of the people are younger, better educated than the classes that were previously sought by unions (Cohen 123). The new class of American society is more professional and white collar in nature that mirrors the service industry that has evolved in the United States (Cohen 124). To add to the union decline was the fact that the corporations that once held the edge over unions, only to loose that edge in the 1940's through the 1960's, have again regained that edge decisively by attending to the public†s needs and social attitudes (Cohen 124). Company†s like McDonald†s have well developed publications departments that donate millions of dollars to charities such as the Ronald McDonald half-way house for the parents of terminally ill children in distant hospitals (Ronald 1-4). Corporations also donate and participate in attempting to keep the environment clean. The corporations realize that reaching the social conscience of the public is good business and worth the investment. In the last two decades the corporations identified with the social issues in America much more than did the unions (Cohen 124). Quality of life issues have become major considerations of this post-industrial class of Americans (Cohen 124). Even though companies have made the worker feel more important and accepted, there is still a need for unions. Companies are doing everything they can to save money. By focusing on the worker, they are making labor less dependant apon unions. They are fighting a war with the unions, and the battleground is the American worker. If the companies win then they are sure to underpay and abuse their employees. It is critical that unions recruit more agressively, or a lot the progresss they have made will be lost.