A Plan for a Car Garage Business Establishment Work Plan

One of the most feasible businesses in the society today is one that goes with cars. The growing number of cars in the streets has naturally increased the number of cars needing assistance for repair.This is the reason why there is a need for business establishments giving quality service for car repairs and fixing assistance. Being able to create such a type of business would indeed result to a much profitable source of income. However, establishing a car garage business is not that easy.Planning for the Business Everything starts with a vision. From a vision comes plans, and from plans come fulfillment of the vision. Vision and plans are the primary elements for starting any business. An entrepreneur must posses the vision and determination needed for an individual to become successful within the business industry; however, these elements are not solely the needed requirements.Vision and plans are the abstract elements that contribute to business proceedings hence empowering the en trepreneur to continue whatever it is that he has started. The other elements include capital, land [place of business headquarters] and the people force.The elements that were mentioned primarily gives essence to the business itself. The capital is more on the monetary resource needed to start the business. At times, this particular resource comes from a group of entrepreneurs who decide to work together for a certain organization, or on the other hand, it is sourced out from loaning or from the pocket of the entrepreneur himself.At some point, the capital actually determines the scale of the business. Land or the area intended for the business headquarters is depending on what type of business is planned to be established. If the business is supposed to cater to several clients, there should be a place intended for them that would be much convenient for business transactions.However, if the business is online [which is at trend right now] or other home based businesses, the area o f business branch would not be much of a problem since the transactions are to be done at any convenient place possible. The people force also depends on the scale of business that is being established.Whatever type of business is being established, it is necessary that the entrepreneurs see to it that the different sections of the business, especially that of the people force are well taken care of. The success of the business naturally depends on the ability of the entrepreneurs to balance the idealistic mission as well as the activities of the organization as a business entity. This as well includes the legalities of the organization and its close connection with the existing laws for business organizations.Introduction It could be noted that opening or establishing a business organization is not that easy to deal with. The first months of operation towards the first year usually deals with the different challenges of effective strategies created to put the organization within th e existing competition. Entering a certain business organization and trying to make it within the business industry is a great challenge to everyone wanting to create a considerable reputation in the society.However, once this particular challenges have been successfully met by the new entrepreneurs, the continuous progress of the said new established organization could be assured. This though does not mean that developments are already to stop once the business has been established. As for a fact, the establishment should simply mark the beginning of the progressive developments intended to help the whole organization remain within competition as long as it exists within the business industry.Scaling the Business through SWOT Analysis Through the utilization of SWOT analysis basics, the establishment of the Car Garage Business shall be examined as to how it primarily would affect the growth of the business towards future stability and success.  

Review of Anxiety Scales for Children and Adults Essay

Abstract   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Psychology testing is very abstract form of testing.   It needs to be based on good research and solid evidence in order to be considered effective.   This review goes in depth to examine the use of this test and how valid it is at proving the existence and level of anxiety in children and adults.   There are many items and aspects of the test reviewed herein, including, the normative sample group, the construction of the test and the overall effectiveness of the test to come to a plausible conclusion and diagnosis.  Ã‚  Ã‚   This review should serve as a good guide in how to best use this test and what aspects may need to be revised in order to provide a more efficient and useful test. Test Name: Anxiety Scales for Children and Adults. Author: Battle, James Publication Date: 1993 Publisher Information: PRO-ED, Inc., 8700 Shoal Creek Blvd., Austin, TX 78758-6897 Prices as of 1994: $84 per complete kit including examiner’s manual, 50 Forms Q, 50 Forms M, scoring acetate, and administration audiocassette $31 per examiner’s manual $19 per 50 Forms Q or 50 Forms M $6 per scoring acetate $14 per administration audiocassette. Online Availability:   This test is only available in written form or a tape recorded form. The test, ‘Anxiety Scales for Children and Adults’, is intended to show if a person has anxiety and, if so, at what level they have anxiety.   It seeks to show the presence and level of anxiety through a series of questions that relate to symptoms of anxiety.   The test is only arranged based upon age with one group for grade nine and under and the second group being grade 10 and above.   There is a different test form for each group.  Ã‚   However, the test does not separate out by gender or using any other factors except the two age groups.   The test could be described as being both unidimensional and multidimensional.   This is based upon the fact that the only differential is the basic age group. â€Å"No factor analyses, internal consistency coefficients, or empirical-criterion keying (item scores for anxious versus non-anxious persons or treatment effects studies) are reported. No controls for faking are indicated. Although developmental differences between elementary (second through sixth grades) and junior high (seventh through ninth grades) students were reported, no other age changes are indicated. Particularly important would be an examination of high school students versus adults and age changes through each elementary grade. A face/content examination indicates the majority of items relate to generalized anxiety and physiological symptoms, with some attention to setting and stimulus triggers. up. â€Å" (Oehler-Stinnett,2007)   There are no distinguishing points made for gender, race or even specific age, as mentioned in this quote from the Oehler-Stinnett review of the test.   As far as theoretical and empirical foundations, this test is very limited.   The test development was not sufficiently reported to allow for any hypothesis to be made.   Additionally, the lack of sub-scales and any rationale support for the procedure is a great default for deciding if the test has any clinical application. There is also a problem with the actual use of information in the test.   The questions are not properly defined as to what, if anything, makes them an anxiety trigger and worthy of being used to determine if a person suffers from anxiety.   Ã‚  It is only stated that they are symptoms commonly reported by people with anxiety.   As this analysis of the test reports, this leads to questions about the validity of the test:   Ã¢â‚¬Å"The specific sources of the item pools from which the author selected the items are unknown. It is merely stated the items represent symptoms typically reported by individuals experiencing anxiety. The final items that appear on the scales apparently have never been subjected to item analysis, internal consistency analysis, and factor analysis, all of which are standard scale construction procedures.† (Merenda,2007) The test manual does not caution nor imply that such limitations exist and the catalog actually reports erroneous information as to the size of the sample group.   The test is intended to be used for the diagnosis, treatment and research of anxiety.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The test is in two different formats.   The children’s, Form Q, and the adult’s, Form M are both designed to reach the same outcome, however, they are designed to be easy to complete for the different age groups.   Form Q is a simple yes or no choice test and has 25 questions.   Form M is a rating system test where individuals will choose from one to five, with one being always and five being never, and is comprised of 40 questions. There are no subscales to this test.   The only scale for the test was constructed without analysis of item, internal consistency and factor.   Each test has its own scale.   The scales are both pretty basic with the only outcome being if the individual has anxiety and if so, the intensity of the anxiety.   There is no allowance for faking or the possibility of conditions of a similar nature, such as depression.   The total testing time is ten to fifteen minutes.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The administration procedure is straightforward in nature with instructions for Form Q to be answered with a yes or no answer and Form M is to be based upon the 5 point scale given.   The tests are in written, paper and pencil format with the questions to be read by the individual taking the test.   There is an allowance for oral administration and other modifications, if necessary to assist the administration of the test.   The test can be given individually or in a group setting.  Ã‚   The test administrator is expected to have knowledge and familiarity with psychometrics and understand the standards of good test evaluation and use.    The manual specifically points out that the administrator should have knowledge of the American Psychological Association’s published standards of good test development and use from 1954.   There is no reference to special circumstance or any special considerations that should be made in the test administration.   There is the recommendation that the test interpretation should be conducted under the supervision and assistance of a psychologist or other professionally trained individual. The type of scoring for Form Q is based upon the amount of yes or no answers.   Form M scoring is based upon the rating given to each question.   The raw scores are totaled and used to determine the level of anxiety based upon a classification table that goes from very low to very high.     There are tables to help convert the percentile ranks and T-scores. The actual instructions for interpretation of the raw score, classification, percentile rank and T-score is very limited.   In fact, the conversion tables for each type of score are not in complete agreement with each other.   This insinuates that only one type of score should be used to score the test, not a combination of the different scoring options.   There is also a question as the reliability of the scoring system used for this test. â€Å"†¦ for the scale to be acceptable as a measure of treatment effects, all coefficients should be in the .90s. As noted, no internal consistency coefficients (alpha) were reported; therefore consistency of the scales in measuring the construct of anxiety cannot be examined. Standard error of measurement was also not reported in the reliability, scoring, or interpretation sections.† (Oehler-Stinnett,2007) The tables and scoring instructions are included in the manual. The technical evaluation of this test reveals numerous flaws.   The manual does not give a full explanation of the normative sample.   The description is rather simplified and gives the overview that the normative groups and reliability/validity groups overlap.   The data was collected in 1987 or 1988 and consisted of 247 adults for Form M, ages 15 to 63, and for Form Q it was based on 365 children of elementary school age and 433 children of junior high school age.   Both groups were from the Midwest. The children group was equal in the ratio of males to females.   The adult group had about twice the number of females as males.   There is no information given as to the demographics of the groups in terms of minorities and no representation of SES levels, clinical populations or the exact ages of participants.   There was distinction given for gender.   The limited information makes it difficult to fully evaluate the sample groups effectiveness in standardizing this test. The reliability of the test is based upon two testing, the original test and then a 2 week retest.  Ã‚  Ã‚   The retest rate was at .84 for elementary age, .86 for junior high age and .96 for adults, which are all acceptable rates.   The short retest period, however, does not allow for sufficient confirmation of a hypothesis and does not meet standards that are acceptable for the measuring of treatment effectiveness.   Additionally, there is not enough consistency in the scales to allow for an accurate measurement of anxiety levels between the original test and retest. The validity of the test, Form Q, is given based upon comparison to the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children and the Nervous Systems subtest of the California Test of Personality.  Ã‚   The scale, however, is compared to the North American Depression Inventory for Children and the Culture-Free Self-Esteem Inventory.   Form M is compared to the Taylor Anxiety Scale for Adults and the Nervous Symptoms subscale of the California Test of Personality.   Constructs were as high or higher in correlation.   However, this is not discussed in detail in the manual.   The validity coefficients according to gender showed similar patterns. The T-tests showed no major difference in the scores of Form Q, according to gender. For M showed a higher score for females than males, but there must be consideration for the fact that there were twice as many females as males taking this test.   When looking at the mean, the difference was not major.   The lack of validity evidence can not be overlooked.   There are no studies that indicate the scale can accurately prove the difference between someone who is experiencing anxiety and someone who is not.   Additionally, there is a lack of supporting evidence for the use of this test in diagnosis and treatment of anxiety. A practical evaluation of this test shows no major indications of a problem.   The use of two separate forms for different age groups allows for the test to be easy to use and understand for each group.   Additionally, the availability of oral administration ensures those with limited reading abilities will be able to take the test and understand it.   The actual image of the test is rather plain and simple. It is presented in a straight forward, non-confusing manner. Form Q is presented in a yes or no format and Form M gives a scale that allows a rating from one to five with one clearly labeled as always and five as never.   There is nothing that stands out about the appearance of the test.   It is acceptable in terms that it is easy to use and understand for the participant. The straightforward nature of the test makes it easy to comprehend.   Form Q is a choice of two answers, which is well suited for the intended age group.   Form M gives a scale that allows for a more descriptive analysis of answers.   The test is intended to be taken by the participant reading and answering on their own, but the availability of oral administration allows for the test to be easy to take for all levels of comprehension.   The administration directions are quite clear and leave no room for question as to how it is to be done.   The test is to be given in a ten to fifteen minute time period.   It is manually administered, taken and scored.   Scoring is based upon the scales given in the manual.   It is advised that scoring be done under the supervision of a professional trained in psychology. This test has many weaknesses.   It is not fully backed by research and is not completely validated.   It lacks major aspects of an acceptable test, including the fact that scoring results are often inconsistent.   The scoring scales are not consistent with each other and there are no sub-tests to give an in depth look into the results.   Additionally, the lack of a reliable normative sample group is very concerning to a professional who is in need of a test that is reliable and valid.   The major strengths of the test is the actual make up of the test.   It is easy to understand and easy to score. This test would be best used for a general idea of a person state of anxiety.   It should be used in combination with other diagnostic measures and not as a sole source of diagnosis.   In order to make this test more effective and useful to a professional, it should be updated with more normative sample group tests, a better scoring system and more definition as to the age levels for each test.   Additionally, it would be helpful to include more differentiating information based upon specific age and race.   If updated, it should also be closely examined to fit into standards for tests of this nature. Reference Merenda, Peter F. (2004). Review of the anxiety scales for children and adults. University of Rhode Island. Oehler-Stinnett, Judy. (2004). Review of the anxiety scales for children and adults. Oklahoma State University. Wood, Richard J. and Zalaquett, Carlos P.(ED). (1998). Evaluating Stress: A book of resources, Volume I. Scarecrow Press.

Marxist Account of Class in Contemporary Society Essay

Marxist Account of Class in Contemporary Society - Essay Example During the twentieth century the working class has been shaped by three trends. In the workplace the displacement of craft and skilled labor by mass production techniques has allowed the employment of large numbers of unskilled workers; culturally, the integration of diverse ethnic strains produced by the centralization of production facilities and the constant infusion of petty bourgeois ideology has precluded the development of a clear-cut working-class consciousness; politically, the increasing intervention of the state in the regulation and management of the economy has added to the complexity of class relations and complicated the formulation of working-class strategy and tactics. These treads are typical; for modern society and social relations between the classes. The theoretical problems are linked because the relationship between the development process and class capacities largely depends on how one conceptualizes working-class capacities. If one accepts traditional plurali st notions of class capacity as applicable to the working class, then it is probably true that the capitalist development process erodes working-class capacities (Elster 1985). If, however, the capacity of the working class is something other than an aggregation of sovereign individuals, a more dialectical relationship between development and working-class capacity can be established (Braverman 2004). In modern society, similar to the Marxist approach to class, the institution of mass production techniques and the separation of the knowledge of how steel is made from the workers themselves is the key to breaking worker control of the industry. The rich would voluntarily renounce their wealth; a community of goods and absolute equality would be established. Marx began from the postulate that men, by their nature, are species-beings, that is, beings who are conscious of belonging to a species composed of others like themselves, and beings who can realize their full human potential only in loving collaboration with those others (Geschwender 1990). Perceiving their own imperfections as isolated individuals and not yet conscious of their collective potential, men seek consolation in an imagined God, abase themselves, and worship him as a power standing over them, when he is in reality their own alienated species-essence and represents only a schism within themselves. Marx now saw this phenomenon in politics as well as in religion. For him, man's present isolation is not simply a matter of perception but a reality, a product of modern civil society: "egoistic man is the passive and given result of a dissolved society" (Marx and Engels 1972, p. 65). Equally real is man's debasement: he is "corrupted by the entire organization (Braverman 2004). It is typical for modern society that the affable young man plunged himself into working-class activities, attending meetings by the score, and gained a profound respect for the people he came to know. Marx repeatedly marveled at "the extent to which the English workers have succeeded in educating themselves." "I have sometimes come across workers, with

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Korean Christianity Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

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The death of the prophet Muhammad Essay Example for Free

The death of the prophet Muhammad Essay Following the death of the prophet Muhammad, Islam rose to superiority in the first part of the 7th century as they expand throughout the lands. This introduced another great religion to the world; a religion that would later shape the history of man. This is a very important part in the history of the world, since this contributed a religion apart from the growing Christianity at that time. The rise and development of Islam made way to the formation of another way of life for the people, which until now is still in existence. However, the 7th century expansion for Islam has led to some events which negatively affected Islamic development at that time. These are internal disputes which lead to civil wars and other internal issues. These things occurred right after Muhammad’s death, where their main point of dispute was about the rightful leader that would be Muhammad’s successor. 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Even though the Muslims were successful in their military conquests, tensions flared between the leaders and those who think they are better than their leaders. Following the assassination of the second of the four â€Å"rightly guided† caliphs, choosing the successor became very controversial and has met much opposition. Even though the successor was competent enough and was able to continue the expansion, he was still assassinated. The last of the four took the position; the first civil war broke out. The opposing side was composed of the relatives of the third caliph, Uthman. They are all fighting to avenge the death of the previous caliph, wherein they blame the fourth, Ali, of plotting the assassination. Even though the fourth caliph was able to pacify the uprising, the events that followed favored the opposition. He was eventually fatally stabbed, where afterwards, Muawiyah, an opposition was ordained as the new caliph. This opens a new chapter in the Muslim history, which is the hereditary Umayyad Caliphate. The Umayyad caliphate can be considered as the first ever dynasty established in the history of Muslim Caliphates, all thanks to Muawiyah I, the first Umayyad caliph. The name Umayyad came from Muawiyah I’s great grandfather, Umayya ibn Abd Shams. It was a traditional belief saying that the Prophet Muhammad and the Umayyad family are related. It is because they both came from the same ancestor which is Abd Munaf. The Umayyads came from a son of Abd Munaf, which are Abd-Shams. Muhammad descended from another son, which is Hashim. These two branches formed different clans which eventually turned into great rivalries. However, when Muhammad established Islam, the other tribe succumbed to the new religion and was focused on becoming its leaders. This goal was attained by none other than Muawiyah I. He rose to power and started the great Umayyad dynasty. Muawiyah I excised his power by creating his personal dynasty, which is the Sufyanids, which has ruled from 661 to 684. During this time, Muawiyah’s reign was prosperous, being able to keep internal peace and security, as well as managing to expand its rule over other lands. Muawiyah was also able to establish a peaceful relation with its Christian neighbors in Syria, wherein they were peacefully coexisting despite the difference in religion. Muawiyah concentrated his wars on the Byzantine Empire. They are able to overwhelm and conquer Rhodes and Crete, as well as launched attacks on the newly established Constantinople. He also had his share on efforts to expand further to North Africa and towards Central Asia. When Muawiyah finally died, Yazid I succeeded his position. Yazid was Muawiyah’s son, and this hereditary passing of power was greatly contradicted by other well known Muslim personalities that time. This includes Abd-Allah ibn al-Zubayr, son of one of the close people to the Prophet Muhammad, and Husayn ibn Ali, Muhammad’s grandson. Conflict again rose in the Muslim community, which eventually led to the coming of the Second Civil War. Several war encounters followed, and the caliph Yazid was killed. His son Muawiyah II became caliph but he was not recognized by most of the Muslim community. Anothr Umayya descendent came into the scene. He is Marwan, related to Umayya through Wail ibn Umayyah. Marwan became caliph by winning important battles at that time. However, Marwan’s reign was short lived, when he died just after nine months of becoming the caliph. He was then succeeded by his son, Abd al-Malik. Abd al-Malik’s sons then became the next line of caliphs, wherein the prosperity was kept at bay. The position of caliph has been passed from brother to brother, until it was passed to Hisham, the final son of Abd al-Malik to become caliph. Hisham reign for a very long time, however, there was no significant gain from his efforts of military expansion. He has suffered major defeats from attacks to conquer other lands. One of his main problems has been the difficulty of converting non-Muslims to Islam. The Arab army lost some of its most important battles, signaling the end of its western expansion. Further losses were experienced when non-Arab Muslims added problems regarding their rights. The one who succeeded the position of Hisham was Al-Wahid II, which is Yazid II’s son. However, the problem with the heir was that he was more focused on earthly pleasures than the expansion of their religion. This raised a lot of oppositions which was translated to another set of civil disputes. This led to successive changes in caliphs which has induced more was and the further destruction of the system of government of the Umayyad caliphate. The Umayyad caliphate was then overthrown by the Hashimiyya movement, which was spearheaded by that of the Abbasid family. The Umayyad caliphate is such an interesting aspect of Muslim history, since it is characterized by a lot of changes in its rulers, as well as disputes by relatives and clan rivals. Despite all the negative points it drew, it still marks the great expansion if has given the Muslim world. Despite its administrative and cultural problems, it was able to show the world that Muslims can stand up to its rivals and opponents, in terms of military capabilities and its rulers abilities. The Umayyads contributed so much to the early Islamic formation, and has literally introduced it to the world. The caliphate was not only for the aspect of religion, but it can also be a means of governance. Dynasties like the Umayyad caliphate are some of its manifestations.

Visual Arts and Social Advocacy Essay Example for Free

Visual Arts and Social Advocacy Essay Art is basically a social construction. It is a mere representation of the experiences of the artist himself, thus it can never be real. Groups of people agree to a certain thing. The capacity of man to receive another mans expression of feeling and the experience those feelings himself is where the activity of art is based (Tolstoy, 1896). In arts, imagination and creativity is used to make things aesthetically significant; something that is perceptible to the senses, pleasurable and satisfying to the percipients. Thus, appreciation of art is not just because of the aesthetic satisfaction. An artist wants to communicate various things; an artist wants to communicate the experience that he or she had, the act of expressing the experience that he or she had and the gratifying experience of the artist for having accomplished something meaningful and or significant. There are three kinds of art forms according to the medium used; the visual or space art, the auditory or time arts and the combined arts. Visual or space art can be seen and occupies space. There are two major forms of art in visual arts; the two-dimensional art which portrays width and length, these can be found in art forms such as paintings, photography, prints and drawings, there is what we also call the three-dimensional art in which it portrays width, length and depth, this can be found in sculptures and landscape. The auditory or time arts is the kind of art that can be heard and expressed in time, various mediums such as musical instruments and poems can be used in this kind of art. Combined arts is the combination of visual arts and auditory arts, this can be seen in theatre arts, drama, plays, movies and the likes. Art in any period simultaneously reflects two things; the genius of the maker, artist or inventor and the sensibility, characteristic values and attitudes towards the important aspect of life that are held by the society in which the work was formed. What is a mural? Murals are art forms which are visible to the naked eye, these are usually paintings; it is categorized as a kind of visual arts. These are art forms which are usually painted on walls, ceilings and tiles. Public murals are usually in large scale and are shown to the public; these are usually painted on public walls and streets. Murals can give an extra elegance, beauty and character to a park, school walls, buildings and bridges. Murals usually tell us stories and ideas of its maker and of the society. Thus, murals can be a great cause of vandalism and future deterioration that is why there are organizations that have been managing and restoring murals to be able to make it a part of the cultural legacy of a certain nation. Due to the fact that murals are outdoor it is very much susceptible to damage and deterioration; urban grimes and pollution can fade the vibrant color of murals, the heat of the sun can crack the paint and moist will allow the paint to peel off ( City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, 2007). Murals in Los Angeles The city of angels. Los Angeles seems to be a center-less place, malls are scattered all over the area that divides between the people of the locality, a city which is smog-full due to the fact that Los Angeles is a commercial and progressive place; well known for being one of the world’s center of technology, international trade, science, culture and higher education. However, Los Angeles makes sense as a whole because of the murals scattered everywhere; in the streets, bridges and in the walls of the buildings, if not because of the murals Los Angeles would seem to be a place full of walls, buildings and nothing more. Murals in Los Angeles actually represent the city and its historical background and accomplishments due to the fact that most of the themes of the murals around the vicinity of Los Angeles is about the city’s history. During the nineteen-sixties and seventies there were only few isolated and scattered murals found in Los Angeles but through time murals have been increasing. There were few muralists who have helped in inspiring the new generation of muralists, such muralists were Jose Orozco, David Siqueiros and Diego Rivera. The young muralists listed were Judith Baca, Frank Romero, Terry Schoonhoven, Kent Twitchell, Alonzo Davis, the East Los Streetscrapers and many other muralists; these are only few of the muralists that helped create the thousand of murals we now can see in Los Angeles. Los Angeles is often called as the Mural Capital of the World, but this is not official. This is due to the fact that there are various numbers of murals which are in large variety and of good quality. The southern California weather is also conducive for muralists to create number of murals the whole year round (Mural Conservancy of Los Angeles, 2000 ). How many murals are there in Los Angeles? According to a study made by Rich Puchalsky from 1998-2002 there are more than 1069 painted murals around Los Angeles. Puchalsky devoted four years in taking pictures of the murals in the locality. Pictures of murals were taken from East L. A. or in Monterey Park and he found a total of 204 murals. He had taken pictures of 84 murals in Downtown, 75 in San Fernando Valley, 73 murals in Long Beach Area, 67 in South L. A. , 108 in Mid-city, 42 in West L. A. , 95 murals in Hollywood or South Hollywood, 79 in Silver lake or in Echo park, 39 in Santa Monica or in Malibu, 37 from Vernon to Compton, 11 in Pasadena area, 57 in Venice area, 29 in Highland park in Northeast L. A. , 20 in Pomona area, 15 murals from Hermosa beach to San Pedro, 6 in Glendale area, 15 in L. A. Airport area, 5 in La Mirada area, 5 in Walnut area, 1 in Eastern San Gabriel valley, and 4 murals from Commerce to Paramount (Puchalsky, 2004) . The site for the mural If I were to make a mural in Los Angeles it would be in the Silver Lake area. We all know that Silver Lake is large; though it is exquisitely large it is better known for the peacefulness of the area. The area has many patches of communities; nevertheless it has been economically productive. It has a wide variation of subcultures and ethnicities because of its historical background. Silver Lake also has the uniqueness of having such a number of gays within the area. Theme and objective Homosexuals have been discriminated around the world and as an individual who has a respect for humankind it is my obligation to give our fellowmen a chance to be accepted by the society. The mural that I would like to make is for the commemoration of the homosexuals; the theme would be of the homosexuals and their kind. This theme would be appropriate for Silver Lake because of the fact that prominent number of homosexuals are living within the vicinity. The objective of the mural is to show to everyone that homosexuals should be given the same appreciation as anyone of us because they too are human and they have the right to be appreciated, nourished with love, and they too have the right to live in the way they are comfortable of, being homosexuals. We as humans are not suppose to deprive them of what all of us needs and we are not to let their lives be doomed because of our justification that homosexuals are immoral and that they do not have the right to live and be accepted. The mural should be able to express the thought that homosexuals should be accepted by the society. The percipients should be able to understand well the meaning of the mural so that they would digest well whatever it is that is within the context of the art. Medium and technique Technique is the knowledge of the artist of the medium he is using and his skill in making him or her achieve what he or she wants, it is a strategy. Medium is the materials used by the artist to objectify his experiences. In the mural I want I am going to use acrylic water emulsion paint which is actually synthetic. Acrylic do have a lot of advantage because acrylic does not crack, it does not turn into yellow and it does not turn into black even for ages. Acrylic also offers the advantage of having wide range of perfectly unique and permanent colors that persists through the years which is ideal in painting murals, it also has clear resin mixed with it and superb adhesion properties that makes the paint in-tacked with the wall to prevent bubbles that may cause the paint to peel off. It has proven that it is durable and can withstand the weather conditions and some environmental factors such as rain, sun, heat, cold, acid rain and air pollution. The mural is to be painted in an existing wall, although fake walls would be of great advantage over existing ones, I want the mural to persist through the years. And for the longetivity of the mural the surface should be prepared well. The surface should be free of moisture content, and water should not penetrate the wall on the other side. The surface should also be free from unwanted oil, wax or grease and the surface should be free from loose particles, and this should be dusted out using brush for smooth texture. Application of Gesso in the surface is also needed for the surface to be smooth. White surface would be preferred for the mural; this is to establish the relationship of the colors I am going to use (Rex Art Supplies, 1997-2007). The colors I would use would be bright colors, mostly of the primary or fundamental colors which are red, blue and yellow. These colors would represent the colorful and bright lives of our homosexual fellowmen despite of the fact that they are being discriminated and disgraced. The vibrant colors would also represent the feelings of the homosexuals. The Design The mural’s design would be harmonious; the elements of visual arts such as line, shape, texture, color and the space and movement should be united even though there is diversity. Line shows emotional qualities and it helps us express ourselves, shape represents the elements that we see, color is used to attract the percipient and it is used by the artist to express his or her feelings whether he or she feels hot or cold, texture is the feeling of the surface of an object whether it is smooth or rough, space and movement gives sense of volume and shows depth. It would also portray proportion; there should be a comparison of the portions of the surface or the mural. It would also show cadence, flow and or continuance and this can be achieved through repetition (Ippolito, 1998 ). The mural’s center piece would portray two men holding hands. This would mean homosexual relationships. Intricate details of the man’s physical appearance and wardrobe would also be given an emphasis in the mural. One of the men would be having a long hair but still having the physique of a common man, and the other man would be holding him. The two men in the mural would be in the act of swaying or dancing to show that they are happy being together and that they are carefree; this would show that they do not care if the society would accept their kind or not. Conclusion Art is a product of man and man is the basic unit of the society, it is a part of a whole. Culture is formed by the society and therefore arts, man and society are inter-connected and inter-related. An art would not exist if there is no artist and the society would not also exist because of man. References City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs [Electronic (2007). Version] from http://www. culturela. org/publicart/murals/murals. html. Ippolito, E. (1998 ). Graphic animation [Electronic Version]. Mural Conservancy of Los Angeles. ( 2000 ). from http://www. lamurals. org/MCLAIntro. html. Puchalsky, R. (2004). Version] from http://rpmurals. home. att. net/murals. html. Rex Art Supplies [Electronic (1997-2007). Version] from http://www. rexart. com/appmuralprep. html. Tolstoy, L. (1896).

Market Feasibility Study For Tsingtao Beer

Market Feasibility Study For Tsingtao Beer Tsingtao Brewery was founded in 1903 by German and British settlers in Qing Dao city, China. Until 1916, it was owned by The Anglo-German Brewery Co. Ltd, after which it became nationalized as a state-owned enterprise in 1949. The company was later privatized through a merger with 3 other breweries and was called Tsingtao Brewery Company Limited. Though the Tsingtao brand has the legacy of a German brewery, it is regarded as a symbol of Chinese heritage, and is currently the second largest brewer by volume in China with around 50 beer plants and three malting mills in 18 provinces and cities across China. Tsingtao is a lager brand that enjoys national distribution coverage and is touted as the National Beer in China. Tsingtao beer is made from 100% natural ingredients with no artificial colourings, flavouring, or preservatives used in the beer. Its brand portfolio consists of the Tsingtao beer (flagship brew), Tsingtao Pure Draft, Tsingtao Dark Beer, Tsingtao Green Beer, and Tsingtao Stout. Tsingtao adopts a bilateral business strategy, wherein it has been targeting Generation Y in order to build its brand awareness and strengthen its brand associations. It has also been making efforts to grow internationally through business agreements and acquisitions. Tsingtaos main target market is youth aged between 21-34, who are sporty and passionate about achieving their dreams. Tsingtao beers are known to have a light smooth taste and thus can be appealing to the younger generation who mostly prefer alcoholic beverages that can be consumed on the go. However, though a leading beer brand in China, Tsingtao has low brand awareness internationally, and therefore, its growth in the international market has been rather sluggish over the past few years. Singapore Market Overview Singapore is a leader in international tourism in Asia and is one of the fastest growing cities in the world. Thus, it is the destination with the maximum potential for growth. Among the ASEAN countries, Singapore is strategically located and has a well-developed economy, an open environment that encourages foreign investments, and a climate for beer consumption throughout the year. Singapore is ranked as the top country for ease of doing business in. Singapore not only facilitates good returns on investments, but also has good infrastructure provisions, thereby making the introduction of Tsingtao beer in Singapore a viable option for the company. Beer Industry in Singapore The increasing popularity of social drinking in Singapore has boosted the growth of beer products, which has resulted in a 7% volume growth of beer consumption. With the government easing the licensing policies to sell alcohol at pubs, bars, and restaurants, the beer consumption trend has increased over time. Also, the consumption of beer has increased at home gatherings and social events. The increasing number of tourists together with the unveiling of casinos and new entertainment outlets has also boosted consumer spending on alcoholic drinks such as beer. A recent Euromonitor research report states that in the past few years, lager beer accounted for the bulk of beer sales in Singapore. Specifically, imported premium lager and imported standard lager continue to drive volume growth in beer. With increasing willingness of Singaporeans to spend more, consumers are spending on higher quality products, and therefore, there is a huge demand for premium lager beer. The outlets that serve premium lager beers are most often frequented by tourists, who in turn are highly likely to purchase them. The report also states that the key consumers of beer in Singapore tend to be working adults of different ages. However, it has also been observed that an increasing number of young adults and women are participating in social drinking and in the consumption of beer. This is especially true for lager, which is lighter than other alcoholic drinks and hence is more palatable. Competition in Singapore Singapore beer market is dominated by Asia Pacific Breweries (APB), mainly due to the overwhelming popularity of its brand, Tiger Beer. APB has a market share of 68.7% with Tiger beer constituting nearly 40.9% market share of APB. Other major brands include Carlsberg and Heineken. Tiger Beer: Tiger beer is the market leader in Singapore. It is a local brand with a very strong brand presence. Its superior distribution network with retail outlets, convenience stores, supermarkets, and pubs, can prove to be difficult competition for Tsingtao. Carlsberg: Carlsberg is the second most popular beer brand in Singapore and is available under various brand labels. Carlsberg Green Label, the flagship product, is the leading international premium lager beer in Singapore. Being a European beer, Carlsberg has a positive brand image associated with it. Heineken: Heineken is the flagship product of the company and is brewed locally in Singapore by APB. The key factors of competition with the Heineken brand include strong distribution network across food beverage, retail, and entertainment outlets in Singapore, a positive brand image as an international premium lager, and a superior brand presence and perception as a global brand. Prospects in Singapore With the continuous expansion of the social drinking scene in Singapore, beer is projected to see steady growth in the future. The recent Euromonitor report estimates a total volume compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4% for beer in Singapore. However, the report also states that as the market is reaching maturity, the forecast total volume growth is projected to slow down over the years. Due to its wider appeal, lager is expected to drive the bulk of beer sales in Singapore. In their purchasing of beer products, Singaporeans are largely driven by brand image, and therefore new product launches by major well-known brands are expected to do well. Investing in advertising and promotions is predicted to improve the consumption of such products. Owing to the huge growth potential for beer consumption, especially for lager beer, it would be the right move for Tsingtao to enter the Singapore market. However, with Singaporeans perceiving Chinese products to be inferior, both in terms of quality and hygiene, there is a possibility of a negative brand perception being associated with Tsingtao. With proper promotion and advertising, this mindset of consumers can be changed. Critical Success Factors The beer industry is changing constantly in the Singapore market. Mergers and acquisitions have decreased the number of brewers, but the varieties of beer have increased. The major brewers have the resources to compete in nearly all facets of the industry. Moreover, as beer is a substitutable product, customer loyalty keeps shifting. With these dynamics, if Tsingtao has to enter the Singapore market, it must focus on the following factors: Offering huge variety, both in terms of flavors and categories Consumers preferences have become more sophisticated and they look for unique tastes in beer, wine and other spirits. Books, internet, and magazines have contributed to the increasing popularity of beer as beer drinkers choose to find out and learn more about the brewing process. The beer addict is now aware of the type of beer that pairs well with a particular type of food. Seasonal flavors cater to the unique tastes and add to the charm of specialty beer. Building good relationships with distributors and networking With so many brands and varieties of beer available today, the relationship with the distributor is very important to gain access to the market. The distributors have a good understanding of the products and know which products sell quickly, thus ensuring that such products are always available to the consumers. Therefore, their acceptance of the product is a critical factor in the products success. Once the relationship with the distributors is established, the sales representatives of Tsingtao should sustain the relationship by delivering superior quality products on time and ensuring that promised quantities are made available. Creating unique marketing and advertising strategies Creative marketing strategies can help attract new customers while marketing directly to the consumer can help create demand for the product, thus increasing the likelihood that distributors will purchase it. Therefore, it is important for Tsingtao to invest time and money in creating a perfect marketing strategy. Also, by enticing youngsters with promotional offers during happy hours and by featuring nightlife places in advertisements, Tsingtaos brand image will be established as a beer for the youth. Tsingtao can also sponsor events at pubs and nightclubs, thereby creating brand awareness and facilitating the trial of its beer for first-time consumers. Customer satisfaction Customer satisfaction is driven by how well the products are sold. An essential factor for the success of Tsingtao is to ensure that customers are satisfied with the current offerings at the current prices. Tapping on tourism Singapore is Asias leading travel destination and welcomes millions of tourists every year. With the increasing number of tourists, the consumption of beer is increasing over time. Therefore, it is very important for Tsingtao to create its brand awareness on a global platform so as to attract tourists. Market Entry Options and Key Considerations Given the potential of the beer market in Singapore, Tsingtao can be launched in Singapore in the following ways: Exporting to Singapore Tsingtao beer can be exported to Singapore from its plant in China. The company can go about it as follows: Indirect exporting, wherein Tsingtao uses a middleman based in its home market to handle the exporting. Cooperative exporting, wherein Tsingtao enters into an agreement with a local or foreign company and the partner company will use its distribution network to sell the Tsingtao beer in Singapore. Direct exporting, wherein Tsingtao sets up its own export organization and relies on a middleman based in the Singapore market. The advantage of exporting Tsingtao to Singapore is that the product can be first tested in the market and if the product is successful, the company can look at other options, such as introducing more varieties. On the other hand, the primary disadvantage is the high export duties for alcohol. Franchising Another alternative to exports is to find a franchisee in Singapore who can sell under the Tsingtao brand. The advantage of such a scenario is that it would provide Tsingtao a temporary vehicle to conduct primary research without losing control of its brand. But since the capacity will be small, a spurt in demand cannot be met immediately. Joint Venture with APB Tsingtao could form a joint venture with APB, the largest brewery with maximum brand share in Singapore. The advantages of such a merger would be tapping into the established distribution channels of APB, while on the downside, Tsingtao will have to compete with other major brands including Tiger and Heineken brewed under license at APB. Wholly-owned Plant Tsingtao could also set up its own full-fledged business plant in Singapore. This would help the company meet the increasing demand of beer in Singapore. However, in this scenario, Tsingtao will become a legal and financial entity in Singapore and will have to meet the local licensing and financial obligations. To set up a small plant with production capacity of less than 1.8 million litres of beer or stout, Tsingtao would have to incur a fee of S$8,400 annually, whereas to set up a large-scale brewery, it would have to incur a fee of S$43,200 annually. Recommended Actions Beer is expected to attain a total volume CAGR of 4% to reach 130 million litres in 2016. It is evident that there is a huge growing market for beer in Singapore. Hence, the beer market in Singapore has the potential for the entry of new products like Tsingtao beer. Based on the current beer market scenario and the trends in the beer industry in Singapore, the following are the recommendations for Tsingtao to enter the Singapore market. It is advantageous for Tsingtao to enter the Singapore market as a wholly owned subsidiary and initially set up a microbrewery in Singapore. This entry will give them brand exclusivity which they might not gain if they enter into a partnership with Asia Pacific Breweries which brews the big brands like Tiger Beer, Heineken, Anchor, Barons Strong Brew and Guinness. By setting up a microbrewery, they will have to pay a license fee of only S$8,400 annually as compared to S$43,200 annually for large scale breweries. Thus, the savings of S$34,800 per year can be used on RD to improve the performance and quality of their products. In Singapore, in the coming years, growth in on-trade volume sales (sales in pubs, clubs, bars, and restaurants) is forecast to be higher than that of off-trade volume sales (sales in corner shops, retailers, wholesalers, cash and carry). Thus, Tsingtao beer can partner with popular pubs, clubs, bars and restaurants, especially those targeting the youth, as the youth is the target market for Tsingtao beer. This channel of distribution will maximize its sales in Singapore. In order to create new demand for beer consumption in a market that has already reached saturation, Tsingtao can come out with a variety of products that appeal to local tastes and complement the local cuisine in Singapore. They can include local ingredients like Calamansi and Pandan to flavour their beers. As Tsingtao is mainly targeted at the youth, it can partner with and sponsor youth events like the Singapore Youth Festival and the Singapore Youth Olympics Festival to build its brand image and gain brand equity. As Tsingtao is a light lager beer, it can be positioned as a better choice for health conscious people, particularly women, who most often prefer light beer. Tsingtao should make its presence felt in the competitive Singapore beer market through advertisements and promotions in digital and social media. As it aims to target the youth, it can leverage on the internet and social media to reach out to a large youth population. It should also actively engage in youth activities to promote its brand image. Through strong promotions, it will be able to build its brand equity, remove the perception of Cheap Chinese Beer, and be positioned as one of the leading beer brands in the country.

Dysfunctional Families in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, by Tennessee Williams

Dysfunctional Families in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, by Tennessee Williams Dysfunction and volatility is common amongst families. These families dislike their kin and often resent them. In the play, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, by Tennessee Williams, the Politt family does not function as a normal family. Brick, Maggie, and Big Daddy are three members of the family that have the most problems that affect the whole family.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Brick, Maggie’s alcoholic husband, is an uncaring man who has no good feelings toward his wife. For example, when Maggie buys a gift for Brick to give to Big Daddy on his birthday and Maggie wants Brick to sign the card, he says â€Å"No†¦ I don’t have to do anything I don’t want to do†(28). Even on Big Daddy’s last birthday, Brick refuses to make Big Daddy happy. He is very selfish in his decision. In addition, when Maggie wants to have a little privacy with Brick and he refuses, Maggie responds by saying she can’t live under those circumstances, Brick then states â€Å"You agreed to†¦ Accept that condition†(32). Maggie wants to love Brick but is shunned because of his insensitivity. Brick’s alcohol seems to float his boat more than being with his spouse. Brick has no compassion and feelings for his family and for anyone else.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Margaret (Maggie), a young, beautiful woman has a marriage on the rocks and a strong dislike towards Mae and her children. For instance, when Maggie starts talking about Skipper during her con...

No Child Left Behind Essay -- Teaching Education

No Child Left Behind The use of the scientific, research-based program Reading First will result in better reading skills for students. Reading First is the $900 million dollar reading initiative of President Bush's "No Child Left Behind". This important "new" way of teaching reading is based upon five components: phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary development, reading fluency, and reading comprehension. Using these methods of teaching and the amount of money available, no child will be left behind. Why the focus on strengthening the reading skills of children? It has been proven that those students who can not read well are more likely to drop out of school and have lower-paying jobs. Reading is the â€Å"foundation for success in society† (Paige, 17). Those students that have a strong early beginning in reading have more successful school careers. Success in reading produces greater success in social studies, science, and math. As a country we are failing our youth in reading. Approximately 40% of students in our nation cannot read at a basic skill level. The majority of students who cannot read on a functional level come from low-income homes. The percentage of fourth-graders from low-income homes is a staggering 70% (Paige, 17). Too often the parents of the children who need the most help do not ask for it, or know that options are available to them. With all the challenges that face lower-income families, they often do not seek out the help that their children may need. In one school system, a fund was set up for children to received additional tutoring outside of the classroom. It was left up to the parents to arrange for transportation to and from the tutoring sessions (Ghezzi, 1). The foundation... ...dweek.org Manzo, K. and Robelen, E. (2002, May 1). States unclear on ESEA rules about reading. Education Week online. Retrieved February 14, 2003. http://www.edweek.org PALs and reading first. Virginia Department of Education. Retrieved March 23, 2003. pp. 1-11. Thomas, D. and Bainbridge, W. (June 2002), No child left behind: Facts and fallacies. Phi Delta Kappan, 83(10), 781. Toppo, G. (2003, January 28). Most states lag far behind ‘No child left behind’ law. USA Today online. Retrieved April 4, 2003. http://www.usatoday.com/news/education U. S. Department of Education, Inside reading first—news and events. (April 26, 2002). Retrieved April 3, 2002. http://www.ed.gov U. S. Department of Education (2002, April). No child left behind: what to know and where to go. Parents’ guide to No child left behind. [Brochure]. Paige, R. No Child Left Behind Essay -- Teaching Education No Child Left Behind The use of the scientific, research-based program Reading First will result in better reading skills for students. Reading First is the $900 million dollar reading initiative of President Bush's "No Child Left Behind". This important "new" way of teaching reading is based upon five components: phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary development, reading fluency, and reading comprehension. Using these methods of teaching and the amount of money available, no child will be left behind. Why the focus on strengthening the reading skills of children? It has been proven that those students who can not read well are more likely to drop out of school and have lower-paying jobs. Reading is the â€Å"foundation for success in society† (Paige, 17). Those students that have a strong early beginning in reading have more successful school careers. Success in reading produces greater success in social studies, science, and math. As a country we are failing our youth in reading. Approximately 40% of students in our nation cannot read at a basic skill level. The majority of students who cannot read on a functional level come from low-income homes. The percentage of fourth-graders from low-income homes is a staggering 70% (Paige, 17). Too often the parents of the children who need the most help do not ask for it, or know that options are available to them. With all the challenges that face lower-income families, they often do not seek out the help that their children may need. In one school system, a fund was set up for children to received additional tutoring outside of the classroom. It was left up to the parents to arrange for transportation to and from the tutoring sessions (Ghezzi, 1). The foundation... ...dweek.org Manzo, K. and Robelen, E. (2002, May 1). States unclear on ESEA rules about reading. Education Week online. Retrieved February 14, 2003. http://www.edweek.org PALs and reading first. Virginia Department of Education. Retrieved March 23, 2003. pp. 1-11. Thomas, D. and Bainbridge, W. (June 2002), No child left behind: Facts and fallacies. Phi Delta Kappan, 83(10), 781. Toppo, G. (2003, January 28). Most states lag far behind ‘No child left behind’ law. USA Today online. Retrieved April 4, 2003. http://www.usatoday.com/news/education U. S. Department of Education, Inside reading first—news and events. (April 26, 2002). Retrieved April 3, 2002. http://www.ed.gov U. S. Department of Education (2002, April). No child left behind: what to know and where to go. Parents’ guide to No child left behind. [Brochure]. Paige, R.

A contrast between opposing values in Hard Times Essay

The first incident that involves the circus and circus people that I would like to talk about, and that clearly demonstrates the contrast between opposing values is on page 34 onwards. Mr Gradgrind, the absolute pinnacle of fact in the book, goes to visit the Circus people to tell them that the fanciful Sissy Jupe can no longer attend the school. I have chosen this incident as it involves more of the circus characters than really at any other time, secondly the description of the circus shows just how far from the world and values of fact it is. The circus is the best symbol for representing the alternative to all that is fact in the book; the circus is seen as a world of mystery and wonder almost of magic and idea that completely goes against the idea of facts. Gradgrind and Bounderby go to see Sissy’s father only to find out he has abandoned his daughter, it is then that Mr Gradgrind decides on the possibility of taking Sissy to his own home, and educating her in the ways of fact from there. Mr Bounderby and Mr Gradgrind get together during this time and have a conference of opinions based upon the fact and laws they have always followed, Gradgrind being softer at heart but still the fact machine at this point wants to take Sissy home, but Gradgrind can be heard to be saying â€Å"No. I say no. I advise you not. I say by no means.† He does this as he is the metaphor for fact throughout the book and to take someone else’s child on as your own and teach them the ways of fact, when she has been living the life of fancy for many years seems absurd to Bounderby. However, at the same time that Gradgrind is having a debate about the matter with Bounderby, â€Å"†¦the various members of Sleary’s company gradually gathered together from the upper regions†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The circus people are described in this chapter as being â€Å"†¦remarkable gentleness and childishness about these people, a special inaptitude for any kind of sharp practice, and an untiring readiness to help and pity one another, deserving often as much respect, and always as much generous construction, as the every-day virtues of any class of people in the world.† Unlike the likes of Bounderby and Gradgrind, who cannot be described as emotional or passionate or anything of the sort just â€Å"plain hard facts† Sleary in this chapter is the real philosopher on the ideas of fancy he even says it â€Å"†¦I lay down the philothophy of the thubject when thay to you, Thquire, make the betht of uth: not the wurtht!† This chapter clearly show the contrast between opposing views and values in Hard Times, the circus shows a whole new world but is representative of a whole new set of values the ideas of fancy are represented in the themes and scenes with the circus. The thing is with the circus is that it has almost dreamlike status things happen there that cannot happen anywhere else and it appears to be an almost illusion, for example â€Å"The father of one of the families was in the habit of balancing the father of another of the families on top of a great pole.† These are the things that you would only expect to see in dreams and so therefore it is fanciful, a complete contrast to the ideas of fact displayed throughout the rest of Hard Times. A good example of how far opposed to the ideas of fact the circus is takes place on page 12 and 13 when, Mr Gradgrind the keeper of facts and bringer of knowledge to Thomas and Louisa Gradgrind’s lives, catches them sat watching the circus people, he takes the view that the circus was bad news, as it opposes everything he stands for â€Å"Now to think of these vagabonds attracting the young rabble from a model school.† He sees the idea of the circus so fanciful and alien to him, he feels that to watch a circus act would be to debase himself or a well-educated child. It even says â€Å"his own mathematical Thomas abasing himself on the ground to catch but a hoof of the graceful equestrian Tyrolean flower act!† This sentence shows what the opposing values are fully in Hard Times, it is obvious from the statement that anything mathematical or just plain practical is in direct opposition to the fanciful nature of flower shows and the like. Thomas when caught does not even protest but knows that to obey his father’s principles he must â€Å"[give] himself up to be taken home like a machine.† That is clearly the way of fact to be machine like, and that is why the circus is such a good opposition and symbol of everything fact isn’t, Gradgrind condemns circus like ideals when he says â€Å"In the name of wonder, idleness and folly!† apparently to dream or to be imaginative is lazy in Gradgrind’s books. Which is why the factual way in which Gradgrind has based his life upon is so offended by the ideas of fancy as he doesn’t like the thought of being considered as being not lazy but that there can be other ways to work hard in life. Gradgrind is so full of the idea that facts are right, that he even questions and believes that with all these thoughts at the disposal they could make the wrong decision, when surely it isn’t a case of right and wrong? Just opposing views and they do oppose each other! Gradgrind does say though â€Å"Thomas though I have the facts before me I find it difficult to believe that you with your education and resources should have brought your sister to a scene like this.† This makes it seem as though education is supposed to kill the imagination, which clearly conflicts with the views of the circus, which believe that you should work hard and perform in life, but never let the dreams die.

Definition Essay on Ignorance Essay

When people are confronted with information which they’re not ready to accept, they will usually return to the phrase â€Å"ignorance is bliss†. Ignorance is not bliss; it is merely a dose of anaesthetic which wears off in time. Being ignorant does not mean being happy, ignorance is lack of knowledge. Ignorance should never be a way of life for a fully grown human because knowledge always means power and ignorance never means bliss. For a child, however, ignorance of things they cannot accurately comprehend yet may be beneficial. I have always believed in Santa Claus until I caught my parents slipping presents into my Christmas socks. I was shell shocked when I witnessed that my parents were no Santa Claus and Santa Claus indeed did not exist. I cried. I cried because my parents were liars. I cried because Santa Claus was not real. Ignorant of that fact would have saved me from heartbreak but I have eventually learned to accept the reality of our world. We cannot be ignorant forever, at some point in the future; we will all learn to acquire the knowledge and the blessing of being knowledgeable. Many times in life, people have been tempted to be ignorant. Being ignorant of things could give us a breather and as with all things in life, both knowledge and people come in differing degrees of strength. Sometimes, we just want to avoid and be less worry about issues we have in our lives. Childhood does have a kind of bliss, indeed. Children do not have the kinds of burdens that adults have-the burdens that come with responsibility and with awareness of the complexities of life and Ignorance has its place in life for awhile. As for parents, they may want to protect their children from knowledge which is too much for them to bear, too confusing for their minds to process. As we grow and become more independent, we must develop an adult mind of our own. â€Å"Would it be beneficial or harmful to a person if they knew for certain the date of their death?† In this scenario, both camps of aphorisms will yell out that their aphorism saves the day. The knowledge camp will say that knowing the date of ones death will help one to live a more fulfilling life. The ignorance camp will state that such a scenario would cripple a person,  and that in order to live a happy life, that person should be ignorant of their death-date. I say that both camps are true, but partial. Many cancer patients know the date of their death, at least as proscribed by doctors, to within a few months. For some of these patients, the news is crippling, and they end up dying long before their deadline because they lose the will to live. Others see this deadline as a second chance, growing beyond their present condition, regardless of if they are to die. This scenario highlights the importance of development in fact giving: you have to be certain the person is ready to hear the information you are about to give them. This problem explores only one way the knowledge/ignorance dualism may be integrated. In Will Durant’s The Story of Philosophy, the story tells the life of a wise Bramin. The Bramin is learned, wise, and wealthy but he is not content with his life. He has many questions left unanswered in his life. He is tormented by his imagination and wonders. He is upset for the time he has spent on learning because his knowledge brought more questions and discontentment in his life. He questions as to why knowledge did not bring him happiness but misery. He also knew that his neighbor, a poor and ignorant woman lives her life without any dissatisfaction. But he declares that if happiness were to be gained through ignorance, he does not look forward to being happy. Smith, John Jacob Jingleheimer, and Cindy Lu. _Wu Xia and the Art of_ _Scooter Maintenance._ New York: Springer, 2003. Smith, John Jacob Jingleheimer et. al. _Wu Xia and the Art of_ _Scooter Maintenance_. New York: Springer, 2003.

Information Systems Security Survey Essay

The University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) is an institution that was built back in the 19th century. UNMC’s mission is to improve the health of Nebraska through premier educational programs, innovative research, the highest quality patient care, and outreach to underserved populations (UNMC, 2004). As an institution with key interest to privacy of its students, staff and subordinate staff, UNMC has adopted various policy guidelines to ensure information security system. The Information Security Management Plan (ISMP) describes its safeguards to protect confidential information. These safeguards are meant among another reason to: Ensure the confidentiality of data Ensure the integrity of data Ensure the availability of data Protect against anticipated threats or hazards to the security or integrity of the information UNMC has adopted information security industry best practices to implement its information security system (UNMC, 2014). They have become so effective that during 2011, a Hitrust Gap assessment was performed, and no significant gaps were found within its security program. The worksheet below outlines how these programs have been rolled out by different offices in the university. Worksheet: Information Security Program Survey Security Area Responsible Party / Office of Primary Responsibility Known Vulnerabilities / Risks Countermeasures / Risk Mitigation Strategy Acquisition (systems/services) Information Security Office Breach of the confidentiality clause All service providers must undergo an evaluation process to verify they are qualified. Contracts have a confidentiality clause whose breach terminates the contract. Asset management System Administrator Poor asset management Proper policies and procedure in place  to ensure effective asset management. Evaluation to ascertain the qualifications of asset managers. Audit and accountability Information Security Office Dishonest employees disclosing confidential information to third parties Every application contains a log that must be maintained to meet regulatory requirement. There is Information security Incident Response plan to handle any notable strange events. Authentication and authorization System Administrator Covered data may be transferred to third parties without authorization Employees are provided with user name and password to access the data. Employees are trained on developing a secure password. There are control policies in place governing access to this information. Business continuity Information Security Office Non-coordination and miscommunication between employees All employees are supposed to keep contact information of co-workers and supervisors to seek for help in case of any emergency. Compliance management Compliance Officer the Information Security Officer Employees failure to comply with the set guidelines, policies and procedure There is a compliance form that is filled before a major project is undertaken by the enterprise. The form is to ensure that no new risk is introduced to the enterprise. Configuration control System Administrator Compromised system security Every configuration must have a password. Each password must have at least ten characters. The password must be encrypted at all times. Data System Administrator Data may be intercepted during transmission Database with security keys is available to authorized employees only. Access to classified data is allowed to limited employees. Information security plan ensures security of covered data. Hardware System Administrator Destruction of hardware in disaster Only employees with technical know-how of operating hardware are allowed to use them. The hardware are encrypted for security purposes. Hardware backup system. Identity management Information Security Office Unauthorized covered data and information transfer through third parties Identity Management Program (IDM) outlines procedure for issuing credentials based on the NIST guidance. Checks are done on employees prior to their employment. Incident management Command Centre Incident Response Team Physical loss of data in a disaster An Incident Reporting and Response Plan is in place to report and respond to any  identified risk. Availability of a well-trained incident response team. Command Centre is established to manage emergency. Maintenance procedures Change Advisory Board (CAB) Existing patches within the security system A release process is in place to ensure that the changes do not affect non-primary system. Patching policies for workstations to ensure security. Media protection and destruction Information Security Office Unauthorized access covered data as well as information Data storage policies define how data stored in the media is to be protected. Data is only stored in a secured data centre or encrypted medium. Network System Administrator Unauthorized access to the network Network traffic is controlled by Cisco enterprise-class firewall where inbound connects are only allowed to DMZ. Internal trusted network is provided via an encrypted VPN tunnel. Technical perimeter is established to bar direct access from the internet to the Internal Trusted Area. Planning Information Security Office Poor planning that compromise management of the security system Contingency plan is in place to handle any eventuality. Employees are encouraged to store data on network file servers for backup. All backups are surely stored and marked for easy identification during emergencies. Personnel System Administrator Loss of data integrity Employees are only employed after exhibiting minimum security requirement. Information Security Addendum are to be signed for confidentiality purposes. An insider who ensures that all legal requirements are followed before access is granted must accompany outsiders accessing information. Physical environment System Administrator Physical safety of the environment may be compromised through attacks and burglary No unauthorized personal is allowed within the data centre premises. The data centers are controlled by keycard access. Policy Information Security Plan Coordinator Policies may be misinterpreted by the employee The University’s security policy is enshrined in the Privacy, Confidentiality and Security of Patient Proprietary Information Policy and the Computer Use and Electronic Information Security Policy. The two policies require that authorized people can only access this information. The policies are reviewed every two years to make them in tandem with the prevailing circumstances. Operations The Information Security Officer and the Infrastructure Team  Failure for operations to comply with the system security policy An operation must fill a compliance Checklist or a Security Risk Assessment form for review to verify that no new risk is introduced to the enterprise. Outsourcing System Administrator Unauthorized disclosure of security information by third parties Outsourced vendors must comply with UNMC Policy No. 8009, Contract Policy. Vendors accessing classified student information must sign the GLB Act contract addendum. Risk assessments Information Custodian Poor method of risk assessment that may downplay the actual impact of a risk Security assessment I conducted annually. All applications must meet the organizations security policies and procedure. Software System Administrator Software may be infected with a virus Software should not be installed unless the user trusts it. Vendor update and patches must be installed unless directed otherwise. Software license must be retained to get technical assistance. Training System Administrators and Information Custodians Misuse of security system Loss of data integrity Employees are trained on information security system before they are employed. System administrators and information custodians are annually trained on Specific Information Security Policy and Procedure. References UNMC. (March 2014) Strategic Plan 2010-2013. Retrieved from http://www.unmc.edu/wwwdocs/strategic-plan_06-10_v3-brochure1.pdf United States Government Accountability Office. (February 2010). ELECTRONIC PERSONAL HEALTH INFORMATION EXCHANGE: Health Care Entities’ Reported Disclosure Practices and Effects on Quality of Care. Retrieved from http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d10361.pdf UNMC. (February 9, 2004). Information Security Plan. Retrieved from http://www.unmc.edu/its/docs/UNMCInformationSecurityPlan-Sept2010.pdf

Poverty-a Social Evil Essay

Poverty is the cause of all social Evils This universe is replete with innumerable masses who are unable to afford the bare minimum necessities of life. They live below the poverty line and even face the problem of getting a square meal. They lack in food, clothes and shelter. Generally they live in slums and jhuggis. They move from pillar to post in search of food but return in the evening empty handed. They even spread their hands before all but remain devoid of alms. Poverty leads to criminal activities like robbery, thefts, Murder, kidnapping and looting. Now and then one can find headlines in the papers about their criminal activities. We often come across reports about whole family committing suicide by taking poison as they cannot afford a square meal. Even the parents do not hesitate to sell their children for just Rs. 1000. These are such a people who kill their small wards because they cannot provide them the minimum necessities of life. Woman you can be even seen selling their bodies or working as sex-workers. When people are unable to get their livelihood by honest means, they are bound to turn into criminals. Very often people find criminals living only in slums. Poverty is the cause of all social Evils This universe is replete with innumerable masses who are unable to afford the bare minimum necessities of life. They live below the poverty line and even face the problem of getting a square meal. They lack in food, clothes and shelter. Generally they live in slums and jhuggis. They move from pillar to post in search of food but return in the evening empty handed. They even spread their hands before all but remain devoid of alms. Poverty leads to criminal activities like robbery, thefts, Murder, kidnapping and looting. Now and then one can find headlines in the papers about their criminal activities. We often come across reports about whole family committing suicide by taking poison as they cannot afford a square meal. Even the parents do not hesitate to sell their children for just Rs. 1000. These are such a people who kill their small wards because they cannot provide them the minimum necessities of life. Woman you can be even seen selling their bodies or working as sex-workers. When people are unable to get their livelihood by honest means, they are bound to turn into criminals. Very often people find criminals living only in slums.

Accidents Have Caused Major Explosion

Accidents Have Caused Major Explosion In the past few years there had been a steady increment in the usage of the risk assessment in the offshore production facilities. This is especially after the Piper Alpha disaster in 1988 and many other major accidents that killed many lives. Operators are showing an increasing awareness by reviewing the safety of their existing topside production facilities. The Piper Alpha accident provided adverse confirmation that the predictions of risk analyses regarding major accidents were certainly prudent. Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA) is very useful in order to reduce the risks especially on the hydrocarbon releases from offshore topsides facilities. (Harmony, 1998) The accidents have caused major explosion and followed by some other minor explosions that release huge amount of hydrocarbons such as gas, liquid and 2-phase liquid. According to the investigation report that had been made after the accident, the main reason that causes the accident is the handover work made by two diff erent shift personnel. Communication problem is one of the reasons of the tragedy. Initially the platform only produced crude oil. However, after a few years natural gas is also being produced. During the installation of the gas conversion equipment, the fire walls were not upgraded to the blast wall that causes a severe explosion throughout the disaster. Moreover, the pumping operation of oil and gas was continued even though the fire started to spread on the platform due to lack of professed authority that just witness the burning of the Piper (Taylor, Wallace, & Ward, 1991). It was started from the two condensate injection pumps which are A and B. The day shift engineer forgot to inform the condition of pump A to the night shift engineer in which the pressure valve was removed for recalibration and recertification. There are about 106 recommendation has made for the future of safety offshore by the Cullen Report. All of the recommendations had been accepted and implemented by the offshore operators later then (Simon, 2012a). Petrobras Enchova Central Platform was listed in the major offshore accidents. This platform also listed as one of the worst and notable blowouts in the history of offshore oil platform. It is located in the Enchova Field, Brazil and operated by Petrobras. Two major incidents recorded in these fields which were on 16 August 1984 and 24 April 1988. The first accidents caused by blowout followed by explosion and fire. Most of the personnel were evacuated safely by chopper and lifeboat. Unfortunately, 42 workers died during the evacuation processed. The main reason that killed many lives during evacuation is because the failure of lowering mechanism of a lifeboat. The lifeboat was suspended and eventually fell 10-20m to the sea which killed 36 personnel. The other six workers were killed when they jumped from the platform to the sea at 30-40m height. (Simon, 2012b) The second accident occurred on 24 April 1988 which is four years later dur ing the workover operations on the platform. One of the well that operated by the platform blew out and finally ignited that resulted in the destruction of the platform. Petrobras decided to drill two relief wells in 30 days’ time and eventually succeed in controlling the blowout (Maduro & Reynolds, 1989). The workover well was performed in order to convert oil well to gas well. Then the blowout occurred during that converting process. The fire resulted from gas ignition last for 31 days. There was no loss of life recorded because the floating living quarters were separated from the platform during the blowout. The operator incurred a total loss because the extensive damage to the topside structure (Simon, 2012b).