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Graduation Speech -- Graduation Speech, Commencement Address

(Love you mother and father in Romanian) many individuals here today most likely didn't comprehend what I just said in light of the fact...

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

The Basics Supply and Demand

The Basics Supply and Demand Supply and Demand analysis is relatively straightforward once the terminology is understood. The important terms are as follows: PriceQuantityDemand and Demand CurveQuantity DemandedSupply and Supply CurveQuantity SuppliedEquilibriumSurplusShortage Basic supply and demand analysis is done one of two ways - either graphically or numerically. If done graphically, it is important to set up the graph in the standard form. The Graph Traditionally economists have placed price (P) on the Y-axis and quantity (Q), as in quantity consumed or quantity purchased/sold on the X-axis. An easy way to remember how to label each axis is to remember P then Q, since the price (P) label occurs above and to the left of the quantity (Q) label. Next, there are two curves to understand - the demand curve and the supply curve. The Demand Curve A demand curve is simply a demand function or demand schedule represented graphically. Note that demand is not simply a number - it is a one-to-one relationship between prices and quantities. The following is an example of a demand schedule: Demand Schedule $10 - 200 units$20 - 145 units$30 - 110 units$40 - 100 unitsNote that demand is not simply a number such as 145. The quantity level associated with a particular price (such as 145 units $20) is known as a quantity demanded.A more detailed description of the demand curve can be found at: The Economics of Demand. The Supply Curve Supply curves, supply functions, and supply schedules are not conceptually different than their demand counterparts. Once again, supply is never represented as a number. When considering the problem from the point of view of the seller the quantity level associated with a particular price is known as quantity supplied. A more detailed description of the supply curve can be found at: The Economics of Supply. Equilibrium Equilibrium occurs when at a specific price P, quantity demanded quantity supplied. In other words, if there is some price where the amount buyers wish to buy is the same as the amount sellers wish to sell, then equilibrium occurs. Consider the following demand and supply schedules: Demand Schedule $10 - 200 units$20 - 145 units$30 - 110 units$40 - 100 units Supply Schedule $10 - 100 units$20 - 145 units$30 - 180 units$40 - 200 unitsAt a price of $20, consumers wish to purchase 145 units and sellers which to provide 145 units. Thus quantity supplied quantity demanded and we have an equilibrium of ($20, 145 units) Surplus A surplus, from the supply and demand perspective, is a situation where, at the current price, quantity supplied exceeds quantity demanded. Consider the demand and supply schedules above. At a price of $30, quantity supplied is 180 units and quantity demanded is 110 units, leading to a surplus of 70 units (180-11070). Our market, then, is out of equilibrium. The current price is unsustainable and must be lowered in order for the market to reach equilibrium. Shortage A shortage is simply the flip-side of a surplus. It is a situation where, at the current price, quantity demanded exceeds quantity supplied. At a price of $10, quantity supplied is 100 units and quantity demanded is 200 units, leading to a shortage of 100 units (200-100100). Our market, then, is out of equilibrium. The current price is unsustainable and must be raised in order for the market to reach equilibrium.Now you know the basics of supply and demand. Have additional questions? I can be reached via the feedback form.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

50 Slang Terms for Money

50 Slang Terms for Money 50 Slang Terms for Money 50 Slang Terms for Money By Mark Nichol I find very little about money to be interesting, other than counting my own, but I’ve noted that there’s a rich fund of slang terms for money that can help enliven both casual and more serious content about currency and finance. Here’s a roster of slang synonyms in plural form for words for US currency in particular, many of which are useful for playful references to money or as options for evoking a historical period in fiction by using contemporary idiom: 1. Bank: money 2. Benjamins: a one-hundred-dollar bill (in reference to the portrait of Benjamin Franklin that distinguishes it) 3. Big ones: multiples of one thousand dollars 4. Bills: multiples of one hundred dollars 5. Bones: dollars (origin unknown) 6. Bread: money in general (on the analogy of it being a staple of life) 7. Bucks: dollars (perhaps from a reference to buckskins, or deerskins, which were once used as currency) 8. Cabbage: paper money (from its color) 9. Cheddar (or chedda): money (origin unknown, but perhaps from the concept of cheese distributed by the government to welfare recipients) 10. Clams: dollars (perhaps from the onetime use of seashells as currency) 11. Coin: money, either paper or coinage 12-13. Cs (or C-notes): multiples of one hundred dollars (from the Roman symbol for â€Å"one hundred†) 14. Dead presidents: paper money (from the portraits of various former US presidents that usually distinguish bills of various denominations) 15. Dime: ten dollars (by multiplication of the value of the ten-cent coin) 16. Dough: money in general (akin to the usage of bread) 17-18. Doubles (or dubs): twenty-dollar bills 19. Ducats: money (from the Italian coin) 20. Fins: five-dollar bills (perhaps from the shared initial sound with fives) 21. Five-spots: five-dollar bills 22. Fivers: five-dollar bills 23. Folding stuff: paper money 24. Greenbacks: paper money (from the color of the ink) 25. Gs: thousand-dollar bills (an abbreviation for grand) 26. Grand: one thousand dollars (as in â€Å"three grand† for â€Å"three thousand dollars†) 27. Large: thousand-dollar bills 28. Lettuce: paper money (from its color) 29. Long green: paper money (from its shape and color) 30. Loot: money (originally denoted goods obtained illicitly or as the spoils of war) 31. Lucre: money or profit (from the biblical expression â€Å"filthy lucre,† meaning â€Å"ill-gained money†) 32. Moola (or moolah): money (origin unknown) 33. Nickel: five dollars (by multiplication of the value of the five-cent coin) 34. Ones: dollars (also, fives for â€Å"five-dollar bills,† tens for â€Å"ten-dollar bills,† and so on) 35. Quarter: twenty-five dollars (by multiplication of the value of the twenty-five-cent coin) 36. Sawbucks: ten-dollar bills (from the resemblance of X, the Roman symbol for ten, to a sawbuck, or sawhorse) 37. Scratch: money (perhaps from the idea that one has to struggle as if scratching the ground to obtain it) 38. Shekels: dollars (from the biblical currency) 39. Simoleons: dollars (perhaps from a combination of simon, slang for the British sixpence and later the American dollar, and napoleon, a form of French currency) 40. Singles: one-dollar bills 41. Skrilla: money (origin unknown) 42. Smackers: dollars (origin unknown) 43. Spondulix: money (either from spondylus, a Greek word for a shell once used as currency, or from the prefix spondylo-, which means â€Å"spine† or â€Å"vertebra†; these have a common etymology) 44. Stacks: multiples of a thousand dollars 45. Tenners: ten-dollar bills 46. Ten-spots: ten-dollar bills 47. Two bits: twenty-five cents (a reference to pieces of eight, divisible sections of a Mexican real, or dollar) 48. Wad: a bundle of paper money 49. Wampum: money (from the Native American term wampumpeag, referring to native currency) 50. Yards: one hundred dollars There are, of course, many other terms, dated or current, including borrowings of foreign terms like dinero. What did I miss (or omit)? Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:When to use "on" and when to use "in"What's a Male Mistress?Threw and Through

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Christians in the Empire Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Christians in the Empire - Essay Example Hence it is easy to imagine what a multitude of people can be reformed if an opportunity for repentance is afforded." The Roman Empire has also forbidden any secret meetings, and considered them to be political associations against the emperor as Pliny clearly states: "in accordance with your instructions, I had forbidden political associations." Christians were treated like treators, like conspirators, to the state and the established pagan religion. Pagans considered Christians to be a threat to their own gods, and they considered that misfortunes or natural disasters came from the Christians' God. Pliny didn't know how to prosecute the Christians. For him they were superstitious people, just ignorant people. So Pliny states the following as he didn't know what to do: "I have never participated in trials of Christians. I therefore do not know what offenses it is the practice to punish or investigate, and to what event. . ." Trajan tells him that he has treated the matter in the right way when he said: "You observed proper procedure, my dear Pliny, in sifting the cases of those who had been denounced to you as Christians." There is some uncertainty in Trajan's mind when he said: "For it is not possible to lay down any general rule to serve as a kind of fixed standard." But Trajan is positive about not persecuting the Christians. So he said: "They are not to be sought out". This policy makes it easier for Christians to live in the Empire as they were not going to be chased openly. It is also clear in Trajan's words that the anonymous accusations are not going to be taken into account. He said: "But anonymously posted accusations ought to have no place in any prosecution. For this is both a dangerous kind of precedent and out of keeping with [the spirit of] our age." This policy by the emperor eased matters for Christians as they were not going to be persecuted openly, but it was not a perfect solution as they were not considered to be normal citizens in the empire. They were still forbidden. 3. How does Tertullian justify the Christians refusal to worship the emperor Tertullian gives powerful reason for not worshipping the Emperor based on the nature of the Christians conviction about the true God. He said very convincingly: "For we invoke the eternal God, the true God, the living God for the safety of the emperors. . . ." Tertullian states also that Christians do pray in favor of all the emperors with the following words: "Looking up to heaven, the Christians - with hands outspread, because innocent, with head bare because we do not blush, yes! And without a prompter because we pray from the heart - are ever praying for all the emperors. We pray for a fortunate life for them, a secure rule, a safe house, brave armies, a faithful senate, a virtuous

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

International Dispute Settlement. Galactic Commodities Inc case Essay

International Dispute Settlement. Galactic Commodities Inc case studies - Essay Example In this discussion, decisions enacted as arbitral awards will be considered; this award means that settlements are implemented after being recorded in an arbitral proceeding. Different issues present themselves in this situation in instances when the law would allow the â€Å"settlement reached in conciliation to be recorded in an enforceable arbitral award† 4. One such issue pertains to form requirements which vary from country to country. An issue in this case is if there is a requirement for clarification for the settlement to be recorded in an award. Should the payment and performance obligations agreed upon be written in much the same way as awards? Or should the tribunals reconceptualize such obligations in the award into others?5 The award based on agreed terms should therefore be clear enough to be enforced without the need for reformulation of interpretation. Recording settlements in an award are based on providing finality and enabling a faster enforcement of the set tlement6. In instances when the parties call for an arbitral tribunal to carry out an award based on agreed terms, risks are often seen and problems of clarity can arise when the parties negotiating settlement are focused on the elements of the settlement, not on the need to fulfill the formal requirements of awards7. An issue may also be seen when the settlement of the parties resolves only some of the issues being forwarded8. This situation can sometimes be easily resolved when a partial award would be given and the other issues are left unresolved. A greater issue results when the settlement includes matters â€Å"which are not within the jurisdiction of the arbitrators, either because such matters fall outside the arbitration agreement or because they have not been submitted to the arbitrators for determination†9. In instances when the settlement resolves matters which are not included in the arbitration agreement, it is clear that the arbitral tribunal does not have cove rage in resolving the issue and rendering awards on the dispute. Another issue which would arise relates to the fact that the settlement gives rights to a party who is not included in the arbitration. This is seen in instances when both or one of the parties belong to a group of corporations where the settled performance must be made or the rights must be exercised by a parent or a sister company10. Awards on the terms agreed upon cannot bind the rights of the third party. The follow-up question in this case is if the arbitral tribunal would still record the settlement in the award. In these instances, the dispute raised before the tribunal is resolved and the arbitration is terminated. If the law allows the tribunal to record the settlement in the award or when the different parties allow the tribunal to record the settlement, the tribunal would now be confused and would be in a dilemma on what to do11. Still another question is if statements shall be possible to record in award fo rms on terms agreed upon. Motives for settlements recorded in awards on agreed terms may not be successfully captured in declaratory statements. But on the other hand, the res judicata effect may already be sufficient reason12. The right to implement awards on agreed terms can call for requests by both parties. The issue arises on what the tribunal should do if the settlement

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Cartoon and Japanese Society Essay Example for Free

Cartoon and Japanese Society Essay Japans animation boom began in the summer of l977, when the movie Uchu Senkan Yamato (Space Cruiser Yamato) captivated teenagers and young adults to emerge as a major box-office hit. The success of this sci-fi anime prompted a fundamental shift in the cultural status of animation. Even before Space Cruiser Yamato, Japan had produced a considerable number of animated films, but they were generally regarded as childrens fare or, at best, family entertainment; the few adult-oriented animated movies were not successful commercially. Space Cruiser Yamato was the first anime to demonstrate that the medium need not restrict itself to kiddies fare. Following suit, from the late l970s, Japan put out a steady stream of animated films geared to young adults, including Ginga Tetsudo 999 (Galaxy Express 999) and Kido Senshi Gandamu (Mobile Suit Gundam). Most of these were commercial successes as well, although critics dismissed these as exploitation films pandering to teenage taste. The attitude of film critics changed abruptly, however, with the 1984 release of Kaze no Tani no Naushica (Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind), a film whose artistic quality was widely regarded as more than sufficient to hold the attention of adults. With this movie, writer-director Miyazaki Hayao overturned the conventional image of the anime director as a versatile hack, and was soon crowned as animes first genuine auteur. Of course, not all anime rose to the level of non-juvenile entertainment or art. In fact, in the late 1980s, with young adult anime showing signs of staleness, the focus began to revert to childrens films. Nevertheless, the genre never relinquished the commercial foothold it had gained during the young adult anime craze; furthermore, Miyazaki began to enjoy a large degree of freedom in his filmmaking, as did several other directors who subsequently achieved the status of anime auteur. The results of those efforts, particularly the anime produced by Miyazakis Studio Ghibli, are not simply movies with high box-office potential; they are in many instances artistically superior to the live-action films made in Japan, and they have won growing legions of fans overseas. During the 1990s, animation, spearheaded by the work of a few anime auteurs, emerged as the face of Japanese film, positioning Japan as the worlds undisputed anime superpower. And in 1997 — a full twenty years since anime took off — animations preeminence over live-action films in Japan was more apparent than ever. In a matter of months after its release, Mononoke-hime (Princess Mononoke), Miyazakis latest film to date which was then alleged to be his last directorial effort, broke every box-office record to become the biggest domestic movie hit of all time in Japan. In the languishing field of young adult anime, the avant garde sci-fi work Shin Seiki Evangerion (Neon Genesis Evangelion) scored a major box-office hit and won a huge cult following. Moreover, childrens anime are as popular as ever. In all, it appears that anime has taken center stage in the Japanese film industry, pushing live-action movies into the wings. Kenji (2002) opined that Animation became popular in Japan as it provided an alternative format of storytelling compared to the underdeveloped live-action industry in Japan. Unlike America, where live-action shows and movies have generous budgets, the live-action industry in Japan is a small market and suffered from budgeting, location, and casting restrictions. The lack of Western-looking actors, for example, made it next to impossible to shoot films set in Europe, America, or fantasy worlds that do not naturally involve Asians. The varied use of animation allowed artists to create characters and settings that did not look Japanese at all Now a bit about how animation gets to wherever you are today. In the dusty yet not-so-long-ago time, when old cities began to get overweight and thus suburban areas started to be a new synonym for the term eyesore, the post-LSD generation of the Northern hemisphere imported anime from the Land of the Rising Sun at approximately the pace of a snail-mail package sent from Alabama to Tibet. The riotous 1970s has just received enlightenment in this field of concern the quicker-witted Americans in the industry started to stop calling non-human-non-nature-non-animal motion pictures ‘cartoons’ and have used the word ‘animation’. Naturally the content of slim boxes of taped animation movies embarking there was then called ‘Japanese animation, and for the convenience of those who tend to misspell anything more than three-lettered it was promptly squeezed into ‘Japanimation, so no wonder that they still misspell it. Anyway, no derogatory wink was involved in the term Japanimation its just a matter of geoprofile for the product that has come in faster and in bulk during 1980s. The malicious intent is not there, if you really are so paranoid about such things; it is for instance in the term Japornimation, for which the Yoshiwara might have had an influence (i. e. modern sexually explicit and repulsively bloody anime movies). Meanwhile, in 1990s someone (probably the same person who snail-mailed from Alabama to Tibet) informed the Northerners that the Japanese themselves have always called the thing animation. From then on animation often replaces Japanimation in the lexicon, but it didnt blast the old word out of circulation usually attached to the Old School of diehard, seasoned, loyal and zealous anime fans (otaku) among the Americans, it is still valid to use Japanimation today in any case of generally useless elaboration such as this, plus the term anime is seen as too wide to refer to just the characteristic Japanese product anime could mean the entire baggage this planet must carry in the form of every kind of animation, including Beavis Butthead.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Fridgiaire Case Analysis :: Business Marketing Case Studies

Frigidaire Case Analysis Problems/Issues Introduction of the front loading washing machine was confronted with a number of problems/issues. Besides the obvious technology differences between the front loading and top loading machine the big difference for a consumer is the price. The advantages such as tumble wash, energy efficiency, space saver, and about 8,000 gallons of water saved a year are overshadowed by the high price. There were other perception problems technologically speaking, however these are all minor. The major problem is the price of one unit and the lack of price savings from this energy/water savings over time to compensate for this higher price point. Consumer interest did not significantly increase according to focus groups until the price came down to $599 from the target retail price of $799. Case Analysis   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Kenmore in 1996 had 29% of washing machine marked share. The initial sales for the new front loading washing machine dropped below forecast mainly due to failure to get Sears Kenmore brand in the mix. The expected DOE regulations were delayed indefinitely, therefore decreasing the demand for energy efficient machines.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The management team wanted to provide incentives to consumers, dealers, and Frigidaire. The research showed that close personal attention would be key in gaining market share, as well as highlighting the advantages of the front loading washing machine over the top loading washing machine to not only consumers but to dealers. Alternatives   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Invest more money (allocation of resources) in research to get the price point of the top loader down to $599. This will set the company back a bit, however if more research and development can produce lower production costs this will increase market share significantly.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Accelerate negotiations with Sears (sources of synergy) to take advantage of their section of the market. This will increase the front loading market share as well, based on the fact that Kenmore has the largest percentage in market share as of 1996.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Increase marketing efforts (sources of competitive advantage) to the target groups to stir up more interest in the advantages of the front loading washing machine. This will increase demand if you start a buzz about the advantages, focusing on all or one of them.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Ministers of Irish Education Essay

1. Since the foundation of the Irish Free State (1922) to the present day there have been 37 different ministers for education. Identify at least 4 of those ministers for education which you consider most significant. Critically evaluate the contribution they played in reforming the Irish Education Landscape. (50Marks) Today I will looked at 4 Irish Ministers of Education; John O’Sulllivan, Thomas Derrig, Donagh O’Malley and Ruairi Quinn and portray how I believe they contributed (and are contributing) hugely to the reform the Irish Education Landscape: 1. John M. O’Sullivan (Jan. 1926 – Mar. 1932) O’Sullivan was appointed to the Cabinet in 1926, serving under W. T. Cosgrave as Minister for Education. In 1926 a report from the Second National Programme Conference was presented to him as the Minister for Education. He accepted all proposals stated in the report to be recommended as a national curriculum. In 1926, he made Irish obligatory for registration as a Secondary School teacher & for ‘recognised’ (funded) schools. In 1926 under O’Sullivan, the School Attendance Act came into existence. It made it obligatory for all children between the age of 6 and 14 would attend school. O’Sullivan is also responsible for: Establishing the Commission on Technical Education in 1927 Setting up the Preparatory Colleges to train primary teachers in 1927 Introducing the Primary Certificate in 1929 As it became clear that many could not access suitable second level education discussions began on creating a continuation course to provide general education in a vocational style. The Vocational Education Act, 1930 was implemented by O’Sullivan. It reformed the technical education branch of the Department of Education and local Technical Education Boards. It introduced vocational schools, a new type of school with a greater emphasis on trade and commerce in courses. These courses were broken into continuation courses and traditional technical education courses. There were those who considered the system revolutionary and there were warnings of danger to faith and morals which could arise in the new multi denominational and co-educational schools to be provided. This was the state’s first attempt to take an active hand in establishing schools outside the power of the Roman Catholic Church. The Vocational Education Act was thee major ministerial achievement of the Minister. The act provided an avenue for a new approach to post primary education and to the introduction of the concept of education as a lifelong process. Here then was a new system which set out to educate through the medium of subjects themselves directly related to the world of work. It was not easily accepted. Education was regarded as the pursuit of abstract learning and the status of the educated person was almost in direct ratio to his/her inability to work with his/her hands. Even in today’s society, there is a still some stigmatism attached to attending a VEC school. However in reality such schools contribute so much to today’s society and as such Today we have 213 VEC second level schools and many further education, youthreach, traveller and prison education centres – a testament to O’Sullivan’s rein. 2. Thomas Derrig (Mar. 1932 – Sep. 1939) At the June 1927 general election he was elected to Dail Eireann as a Fianna Fail TD for Carlow–Kilkenny. In Eamon de Valera’s first government in 1932 Derrig was appointed Minister for Education. Derrig has been influential in cultivating of our education system – but not in a positive way: Derrig initiated a review of industrial and reformatory schools and the rules under the Children Act 1908, resulting in the critical 1936 Cussen Report, which he shelved. His lack of action was noted in 2009 when the Ryan Report examined the subsequent management of these â€Å"residential institutions†; Derrig was the first minister to seek a report that could have resulted in much-needed reforms. A call for public inquiry into industrial schools was rejected by Minister of Education. Thomas Derrig because â€Å"it would serve no useful purpose†. It has been suggested that he did not want to follow British law reforms in the 1920s and 1930s because of his strong anti-British views, and that Irish children had suffered needlessly as a result. Under Derrig’s rein, he not only effect teacher salaries, but also banned married female teachers from working. According to Diarmaid Ferriter (2004) in his book The Transformation of Ireland 1900 – 2000, the marriage ban imposed on female primary teachers from 1934 to 1958 seemed to attract little public comment, despite the fact that many untrained single teachers were replacing trained married female teachers. The INTO was not vocal in objecting on the basis of gender equality, and whatever opposition existed in the union was overshadowed by its campaigns on wage levels. This was a sign of the times in my opinion, where women had very little power or voice. It is probably only in the past few decades that this move to ban female teachers has really been viewed as scandalous and backwards. While the rest of Europe moved forward with education reform after World War Two, Derrig resisted such reviews. Derrig’s narrow mindedness cost us – academically and for so many young innocent children –physically and emotionally. 3. Donogh O’Malley (July 1966 – Mar. 1968) Following Fianna Fail’s return to government following the 1965 general election O’Malley joined the cabinet as Minister for Health. He spent just over one year in this position before he was appointed Minister for Education, a position where he will be forever remembered for his dynamism as a minister. Having succeeded another dynamic young minister, Patrick Hillary, O’Malley acted swiftly to introduce the recommendations that were made in an official report regarding education. Shortly after he was appointed he announced that from 1969 all schools up to Intermediate Certificate level would be free and that free buses would bring students from rural area to the nearest school. O’Malley seems to have made this decision himself without consulting other ministers, however, he did discuss it with Lemass. Jack Lynch, who as Minister for Finance had to find the money to pay for it, was certainly not consulted and was dismayed at the announcement. In spite of this O’Malley’s proposals were hugely popular with the public and it was impossible for the government to go back on its word. As minister O’Malley also extended the school transport scheme and commissioned the building of new non-denominational comprehensive and community schools in areas where they were lacking. He also introduced Regional Technical Colleges (RTCs), now called Institutes of Technology, in areas where there was no third level college in proximity. The best example of this successful policy is Limerick, now a university, where O’Malley is credited with taking the steps to ensure the university came into existence. His plan to merge Trinity College, Dublin and University College Dublin aroused huge controversy and was not successful, despite being supported by his cabinet colleague Brian Lenihan. Access to third level education was also extended as the old scholarship system was replaced by a system of means-tested grants which gave easier access to less well-off students. Because of O’Malley, the working class and middle class of Ireland are far better. Four decades on from the 1960s and we have a 4 fold increase in retention rates, with 82% retention of students to Leaving Cert. However I argue the validity of the grants system that he hoped put in place. As Niamh Bhreathnach commented in the Irish Independent in September 2002, O’Malley would be turning in his grave if he knew how the grants system was been exploited at that time. As the students of Ireland fight to hold onto the grants system as we know it, I personally feel it’s a pity that O’Malley didn’t introduce a student loan system like England’s system. It certainly would cost the Irish Taxpayer less. 4. Ruairi Quinn (2011 – Present) Whilst still in office, I believe that R. Quinn has and will continue to significantly contribute in the reforming the Irish Education Landscape. Within one year, Ruairi Quinn has shown how an energetic Minister can drive the education agenda and push for change. In April 2012 the report on The Forum on Patronage and Pluralism was published. In the Primary Sector, The fact that 96% of primary schools in Ireland are under denominational patronage is unique among developed countries. The group has advised that the first phase in divesting schools should involve 258 schools in 18 dioceses across 47 areas. How the Minister will carry out this task remains to be seen. However he is determined to carry this out and I believe as such it will be one of the most significant changes in our educational landscape since O’Malley’s introduction of free schooling. The 8 subject Junior Certificate currently being introduced by Quinn will change the landscape of learning for our students. I hope that with this introduction, I can as a teacher continue to use active learning activities in the classroom and concentrate on lifelong learning rather than the system of rote learning that exists at the minute. The minister also announced in May 2012 that Chinese will become a subject in the Leaving Certificate and he also announced an optional short course on Chinese language and culture which will be made available as part of the new Junior Cert cycle programme from 2014. As Quinn’s ministry continues to push on with the ideology of a 2 year teaching course, I am glad I am completing this course in 2012 and not in 2014. While I understand the ideology of this move, I do not believe it will improve teaching standards in Ireland. I believe that scholar students (regardless of their vocation) will look at the time it takes to become a teacher and the monetary rewards of it (which unfortunately is on the decrease) and the fact they could have for instance a medical degree in the same amount of time with brighter economic aspirations. It is my sincere hope that such visions do not come through. Today I have looked at 4 Irish Ministers of Education; John O’Sulllivan, Thomas Derrig, Donagh O’Malley and Ruairi Quinn and I truly believe they contributed (and are contributing) hugely to the reform the Irish Education Landscape.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Classical Management Theory

Classical management theory, for all it’s rationality and potential to improve efficiency, dehumanised the practice of management (Inkson & Kolb, 2001). Choosing either bureaucracy or scientific management, discuss this quote and argue whether modern business’ continues to dehumanise. People’s conception of the nature of work and the social relationships between individuals in various levels in organizations changed, brought by the industrial revolution of the late 1800s. Classical management believed in work specialization. That is, that work should be organized and divided according to one’s specific individual skill. There are three subfields of management, each with a slightly different emphasis: scientific management, bureaucratic organisations and administrative principles (Wrege & Stoka, 1978). Using scientific management, we will explore the ways it dehumanised the practice of management. Firstly, by discussing it’s systematic approach that was designed by Frederick Taylor, to solely improve productivity by reducing the amount of time and effort needed in solving a task. Secondly, by exploring how human needs and considerations were given little or no regard. Then lastly, how the human relations movement was formed and the ways it ‘humanised’ the practice of management to become what modern management is today. Scientific management was a systematic approach that was designed by Frederick Taylor, one of the original advocates of scientific management, to solely improve productivity by introducing a machine-like structure that reduced the amount of time and effort needed. His philosophy is encapsulated in his statement, â€Å"In the past the man has been first. In the future, the system must be first† (Wren, 1979). This job redesign was at the heart of the scientific management movement, and efforts to simplify job design reached its peak in the assembly-line production techniques that became popular in the early 1900s. It formed the basis for what became known as the scientific management movement, and had the following characteristics; Machine pacing – this was when the production rate was determined by the speed of the conveyor belt, not by the workers themselves. Task repetitiveness – tasks were performed over and over during a single work shift. On auto assembly lines, for example, typical work cycles (that is, times allowed for completion of an entire piece of work) ranged from thirty seconds to one and a half minutes. This means a worker performed the same task up to 500 times a day. Next were low skill requirements – jobs could be easily learnt and workers were easily replaced. Task specialization – each job consisted of only a few operations. Limited social interaction was also a factor – due to the speed of the assembly line, noise and physical separation. Finally, tools and techniques specified – selected tools and techniques were assigned by staff specialists (usually industrial engineers) to maximize efficiency. As you can see, organisations had machine-like structures, which increased a workers speed and expertise in one specialised area. It also reduced the amount of time spent on a task and the effort of teaching them a range of skills, which in turn helped the business achieve organizational productivity and efficiency. But buy doing so; management lost its human side. Human needs and considerations of its workers were given little or no regard. Therefore Taylor felt the worker was, essentially, just part of a huge line of processes. Although the techniques led to an increase in output as well an increase in efficiency, problems with this new form of management began to arise. Firstly, it became increasingly apparent that factors other than money had motivating potential for workers to increase output and efficiency. Second, managers became aware that many employees would work consistently without the need for close supervision and control. Lastly, some managers attempted job simplification techniques without having the need to increase pay when there was an increase in output. It’s failure to deal with the social context and workers’ needs led to increased conflict between managers and employees (Samson & Daft, 2009), as wages fell behind productivity and as increased efficiency lead to cuts in the number of workers. Job fractionation lead to unauthorized breaks, as people did not like their jobs. Workers reacted by refusing to co-operate, and unionization efforts and sabotage also became more common during this period. Over time, concern for improving worker’s attitudes arose and by the 1930s, behavioural scientists began looking at ways to make employees happier on the job. As we have just discussed, the benefits that arose from scientific management seemed outweighed by the multiple drawbacks we have just highlighted, relating the human needs and considerations of workers. Thus, the idea based on rationality and technique almost seemed to â€Å"dehumanise the practice of management†, through this statement Inkson & Kolb (2001) understood. This emphasis on the human factor in employee performance became known as the human relations movement. Management now realized that people wanted to feel useful and important at work. Attention moved away from scientific measurement of fractionation towards a better understanding of the nature of interpersonal and group relations on the job. Motivation had taken a shift from the piece-rate approach to having a stronger social emphasis. â€Å"Hardly a competent workman can be found who does not devote a considerable amount of time to studying just how slowly he can work and still convince his employer that he is going at a good pace† (Taplin, 2006). This quote reflects the previous generally accepted mentality of the average worker, in that their sole motivation was money – the human relations movement changed all of this. Workers wanted to be recognized as individuals and it was concluded that it was failure to treat employees as human beings was largely responsible for poor performance, low morale, high job turnover, absenteeism, among other problems. Because of these problems, an effort was made by managers to make employees feel important and involved. Morale surveys, for instance, became popular as an indicator within organizations, as well as departmental meetings and company newspapers. Supervisory training programmes were initiated to train managers in group dynamics. These were all attempts to help employees feel involved and important to the organisation. As you can see, scientific management, in all it’s rationality, had ultimately dehumanised the practice of management to the point where scientific research was undertaken to better understand the worker and recognize them as individuals. From a modern point of view, the advent of human relations has dramatically changed management techniques today. Although it is constantly changing, two aspects from traditional theories of motivation continue. Firstly, the basic goal of management remained employee compliance with managerial authority. The major differences were the strategies for accomplishing this. Second, nothing has changed in regards to the nature of the job itself. Instead, nterpersonal strategies in the workplace were introduced in an effort to make employees more satisfied and ultimately more productive (Youngblood, 2000). For instance, seminars to improve management and group dynamics were given by businesses to their managers, but their job is still the same. That said, such efforts are aimed at better understanding of human relations in the workplace, to improve employee morale and to recognize workers as individuals and the statement that ‘modern business’ continue to dehumanise’ can no longer be justified. We have discussed the quote â€Å"Classical management theory, for all it’s rationality and potential to improve efficiency, dehumanised the practice of management† (Inkson & Kolb, 2001)† and explored the philosophy of scientific management, which was an idea based on rationality and technique. It â€Å"dehumanised the practice of management† through a number of ways which we have explored in this essay. First, through it’s systematic approach designed by Frederick Taylor to solely improve productivity by reducing the amount of time and effort needed in solving a task. Second, by having little or no consideration for the needs of workers – they were merely part of a machine. Although two traditional theories forming the basis of management remain, the human relations movement has greatly impacted management techniques and it’s entire philosophy. From a once fractionised system it has shifted to having a large social emphasis, forming what modern management is today. Therefore, scientific management without a doubt dehumanised the practice of management and the argument that ‘modern business’ continue to dehumanise’ can no longer be supported.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Essay on Domestic Violence Vs. Family Violence

Essay on Domestic Violence Vs. Family Violence Essay on Domestic Violence Vs. Family Violence Essay on Domestic Violence Vs. Family ViolenceViolence is a serious problem for the various social and cultural groups. Violence has a negative impact on the physical, emotional, financial and social status of women, children, families and communities around the world. Recent studies show that more that one million women are abused by their partners. In such a way, domestic violence, or as it is usually called family violence, is one of the most frequent, common and unpleasant forms of violence nowadays. Thus, the main aim of the assignment is to explore the concepts of domestic violence and family violence with many details for the purpose of understanding the issue better.There is no a single worldwide agreed definition to the meaning of the concepts of â€Å"family violence†, â€Å"domestic violence†, and other similar to these terms. Some people state that there are no differences between these two concepts, while others are trying to prove to the contrary. Thus, it can be stated that the broad term â€Å"family and domestic violence† is a mix of two similar terms â€Å"family violence† and domestic violence†. Of course, both of these terms can be observed on the base of their contextual elements such as presence or absence of constant relationships, domestic or outside arrangements, etc., but all these nuances will not change the meaning of the problem. So, two of these concepts are the same in legal sense because they deal with the abuse within a family or in relations.Being more specific, and trying to find some specific features in the above mentioned concepts, it is necessary to state that family and domestic violence is a repetitive cycle with increasing frequency of physical, sexual, verbal, emotional and economic pressure on the family to get power and control over it. Domestic violence is based on offensive relationships between partners, when one partner demonstrates violent types of behavior against another partn er, against a person who is in a close relationship with him/her, including family, marriage, or dating. Family violence describes violent behavior between the family members, and it can take any form, and may occur not only between partners, but also it can be aimed at children. Thus, both kinds of violence can negatively impact on physical, psychological, moral, and other state of human wellbeing.Manifestations of domestic and family violence can be intensified in crisis situations, such as job loss, deterioration of the relationships of the spouses, midlife crisis, alcoholism or drug addiction. It is important to remember that 95% of cases of physical or sexual violence are not limited to a single episode. The events tend to develop incrementally: the person will show the own behavior more and more violently each time. Thus, domestic or family violence is a pattern of abusive and dangerous behavior that may include physical, emotional and sexual violence. In addition, it can mani fest itself in the form of intimidation, isolation and coercion. Domestic or family violence can include some threats of violence, physical injury, attacks against property or animals, acts of intimidation, emotional abuse, isolation, and use of children as a means of control.In conclusion, we have observed the main characteristics of the concepts of â€Å"family violence† and â€Å"domestic violence†, pointed out the main difference between the two terms, and demonstrated that domestic and family violence is a violation of human rights, as it violates many basic human rights such as the right to life and physical safety. In addition, domestic violence differs from extraneous violence in the fact that is occurs between people in their intimate relationships. Although victims of both forms of violence experienced trauma, victims of domestic violence suffer more because the abuser has permanent access to the victim, and may continue new attacks again at any time.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Hussain Surname Meaning and Family History

Hussain Surname Meaning and Family History The surname Hussain originated from the Arabic personal name, Husayn, derived from the Arabic hasuna, meaning to be good or to be handsome or beautiful. Hasan, for which Hussain is a derivative, was the son of Ali and the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad. Surname Origin:  Muslim Alternate Surname Spellings:  HUSAIN, HASAN, HUSAYN, HUSSEIN, HUSEIN, HUSAYIN, HUSSAYIN, HUSEYIN, HUSSEYIN, HUSEYN, HOSSAIN, HOSEIN, HOSSEIN, HUSSEYN   Famous People with the Hussain Surname Maqbool Fida (M. F.) Husain:  Indian painterRobert Hossein: French actor and directorSaddam Hussein: former dictator of IraqHussein bin Talal: King of Jordan from 1952–1999 Where Is the Surname HUSSAIN Most Common? According to surname distribution data from Forebears, Hussain is the 88th most common surname in the world, found most prevalently in Pakistan where over 3.2 million people bear the name and it ranks #2. Hussain is also the 2nd most common surname in the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, 3rd in Saudi Arabia, 4th in Quatar and 5th in Bahrain. WorldNames PublicProfiler, which does not include data from Pakistan, indicates that Hussain is also fairly common in the United Kingdom, especially in the English region of Yorkshire and Humberside, as well as in Oslo, Norway. Genealogy Resources for the Surname HUSSAIN Contrary to what you may hear, there is no such thing as a Hussain  family crest or coat of arms for the Hussain surname.  Coats of arms are granted to individuals, not families, and may rightfully be used only by the uninterrupted male line descendants of the person to whom the coat of arms was originally granted. FamilySearch - HUSSAIN  Genealogy: Explore over 370,000  historical records which mention individuals with the Hussain surname, as well as online Hussain family trees on this free website hosted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.Family Tree DNA Discovers Y-DNA Signature That Might Represent the Prophet Mohammed: An article in the  TheNational  highlights DNA testing of the male descendants of Mohammeds  daughter Fatima through her two sons,  Hassan and Hussein.  GeneaNet - Hussain  Records: GeneaNet includes archival records, family trees, and other resources for individuals with the Hussain  surname, with a concentration on records and families from France and other European countries. Resources and Further Reading Cottle, Basil.  Penguin Dictionary of Surnames. Baltimore, MD: Penguin Books, 1967.Dorward, David.  Scottish Surnames. Collins Celtic (Pocket edition), 1998.Fucilla, Joseph.  Our Italian Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 2003.Hanks, Patrick and Flavia Hodges.  A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1989.Hanks, Patrick.  Dictionary of American Family Names. Oxford University Press, 2003.Reaney, P.H.  A Dictionary of English Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1997.Smith, Elsdon C.  American Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 1997.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Managing services and Experiences Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Managing services and Experiences - Assignment Example nvolves catering for the emotional aspect of product purchase, that is, providing a client with what they are not likely to achieve physically such as gifts, rewards and discounts. Nando’s is home to the legendary flame-grilled peri-peri chicken. Born of humble beginnings in Johannesburg in 1987, the restaurant boasts of the yummiest chicken you will ever taste. My visit to the restaurant was a moment I will live to cherish for a longer period in my life. The experience was not only awe-inspiring but full of lessons i would never have learnt elsewhere. Right from the moment I set foot, the atmosphere is inviting, the receptionists welcoming, and the view, exquisite. The restaurant is not only elegant, the dà ©cor exquisite, the smell of delicacy invigorating but also has one of the best service-customer policies. At Nando’s I wanted to inquire a little more on what they do to attract classy customers, keep them satisfied but also highly maintain the standards of the place. I was lucky to learn a recipe of the famous â€Å"peri-peri† chicken, grab a meal and also keep the menu. Other than that, I learned that the management was reputable, courteous and equally hospitable. This is why the executive staff manager gave me a chance to learn (interview) from the restaurant. At the reception, I was directed to a vacant place and no sooner had I settled did I receive a copy of the menu and given time to make my choice before the maitre d’ returned to serve me. This, amongst other policies such as decency, respect and loyalty are some of the virtues that the restaurant prides in. Not only does the dining restaurant guarantee customer retention but also creates such a hospitable environment that makes you yearn for your next visit. Clearly the concept of CEM has well been absorbed into the business and its no doubt there will always be customers checking in. Thai massage is a spa that specializes in ancient-style massages. Developed in thailand, the business has

Friday, November 1, 2019

Analyse and access the blackboard Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Analyse and access the blackboard - Essay Example Currently in your Blackboard courses, you need to remove the existing file and re-upload the new version of the file. With the Blackboard Content System, you will no longer need to upload the same file to several different sections you would simply link from your course to the file in the Content System. This way if you modify, for example, the syllabus file in the Content System, the updates in the file can be reflected automatically in all the courses without having to go into each course and modify each file. Throughout this guide, you find a set of "Why Bother" ideas for Blackboard usage. So, below we've compiled a list of ideas from the broad spectrum of uses to get you thinking of why you would use Blackboard in your course: This is an exploratory study that aims to understand the current implementation of University Blackboard. Based on evaluation, it indicates that the general visibility of this study is guaranteed. The results of this study give students and faculty members more understanding of how Westminster University applies the standard student-faculty services online with the use of tools via the internet according to the website design standards. Furthermore, enhancement and personalising the University Blackboard can be adapted to suite and blend with the general there of the University website. Security is still a concern. Giving access to students should be monitored momentarily to avoid identity theft among students. References Wikipedia. (November 2006). Blackboard Inc. Retrieved November 7, 2006,