The United States and the Articles of Confederation essays

The United States and the Articles of Confederation essays From 1781 to 1789, the Articles of Confederation provided the United States with an ineffective government. However, there were some strong steps taken in the articles to try and make the United States a better country. The Articles created a simple confederation of independent states that gave limited powers to a central government. But in the end, the Articles of Confederation didn't help the United States manage. The Articles of Confederation arranged a national government that would consist of a single house of Congress, where each state would have one vote. Congress had the power to set up a postal department that estimates the costs of the government and request donations from the states and to raise armed forces. Congress could also borrow money to declare war or enter into treaties and alliances with foreign nations. With this power, Congress was able to make the Articles of Confederation look good by signing the Treaty of Paris in 1783. This treaty, signed along with Great Britain, concluded the American Revolution. Great Britain recognized the thirteen colonies as the free and independent United States of America. However, the most important power was that Congress had the right to obtain territory and control development of the western territories, which was previously controlled by Great Britain. (Doc D) With the Articles of Confederation, the United States was able to break away f rom Great Britain and become a free nation, setting up their government. Although the articles set the United States free, it was unable to provide them with a solid government. People like John Jay and James Madison question the Articles of Confederation because of the weak government. (Doc G) There were several problems between the states and the central government. For example, sometimes the states refused to give the government the money it needed. The government could not pay off the debts it had made during the revolution, includin...

Retail Management Your complete guide to starting your career

Retail Management Your complete guide to starting your career If you’re thinking about a career in retail management, either because you’ve put in your time in the entry-level retail trenches and want to move up in the field or you’re considering a career change, you probably have a general idea of what to expect. After all, retail is not for the faint of heart. However, there’s a difference between working in retail and making it your career, so if you’re considering taking that step to level up, we have the info you’ll need to help make that decision. How will you know if it’s a good fit?If you’ve gotten this far, it’s likely you’ve already found retail to be a good fit for you, on paper. But what are the qualities you’ll need to have as a retail manager?Good personality counts for a lot here. Some common traits found in successful retail managers include:Strong customer focus. The customers may or may not always be right, but they will always be your priority. Manag ers who care about providing excellent customer service, even under stressful circumstances, do well.Leadership skills. The manager will be in charge of other employees as well as store operations, so it’s important to be someone who can step up and lead rather than melting into the crowd.The ability to make peace. Whether it’s dealing with employee drama or customer issues, at some point the manager will have to be the one who fights off irritation or frustration and placates different kinds of personalities to make sure things are resolved well.If you struggle in any of these areas, it doesn’t mean you can’t be a good retail manager, but it might mean putting in extra work to create a successful professional persona. Being part of retail management means being able to navigate the challenges of keeping everything running smoothly while also accommodating corporate/business goals and customer needs.What is the day-to-day like?Retail managers are typicall y responsible for the daily operations of a brick-and-mortar store- whether it’s a big box giant like Walmart or your Mom and Pop hardware store down the street. Basically, every store needs someone to ensure that sales goals are being met, staff are being managed, the store is operating well, and that customer needs are being met. A retail manager’s tasks may include:Opening and closing the storeHiring and managing staff membersManaging the daily employee scheduleAnalyzing sales and setting sales goals for the storeCreating and maintaining store budgetsAnalyzing and coordinating inventoryCreating store displaysWorking with and reporting to senior management in the company (for example, a head office or a store owner)Communicating financial informationWorking with vendors and suppliersEnsuring that the store is clean, organized, and well-maintainedMonitoring expenses and store losses (security)Handling escalated customer service issuesRetail managers are responsible fo r making sure everything gets done in a store, and that it’s done well. Retail managers can also expect to work long weeks (potentially more than 40 hours), on varied schedules. After all, stores are open all week long, and increasingly on holidays. This is not your standard 9-to-5 in a cubicle gig.What types of retail management jobs are out there?Some of the most common retail management job opportunities include:Store ManagerRetail Operations ManagerTeam LeaderStore General ManagerAlthough most retail management positions are still in what we would think of as â€Å"normal† stores, the retail landscape is definitely changing. So in addition to the traditional store manager roles (showing up at a specific store and making sure that physical operations are going according to plan), there will be increasing opportunities to manage digital retail as well. Managers who are well-versed in supply chain logistics or online sales have versatile skill sets that could help the m advance in our increasingly digital economy.What education will you need?One of the best things about getting started retail is that you don’t need to get an extensive education before you jump in. The retail path often starts with a high school degree and on-the-job training, and then growing experience as you take on more responsibility. Hands-on experience is often more valuable in this field than a specific education credential. To become a retail manager, however, an associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree, or course in sales, business, or management can help you get to the management level faster.If you don’t have a degree, don’t worry- there’s still a path to retail management. You can take your existing experience and use that to create longer-term goals. You can also stay and grow within a certain company, using the promotion ladder to get where you want to be. At every level of your retail career, make sure you’re learning e verything you possibly can about how your store (and retail in general) works, because this is an education you can’t get elsewhere- and you never know when that information can help boost you to the next level.What skills will you need?As mentioned before, retail managers have to be able to juggle many different obligations and tasks. These core skills will serve you very well in a retail management career.Communication skillsManagers have to be able to communicate clearly and effectively with all sorts of different people: employees, upper management, suppliers or vendors, and employees. That means being able to adapt a message to the right audience and strike the right tone as necessary. Listening skills are also essential, so that potential problems can be understood and addressed as quickly and efficiently as possible.Problem solvingEvery retail manager is going to deal with problems- problems with employees, problems with customers, problems in getting the right merchan dise, problems with security, you name it. If your solution to a direct challenge is to pull inward, turtle-style, and hope it goes away, this job might not be for you. Instead, retail managers should be able to see a problem clearly, and be able to come up with a workable solution- even if it’s not a perfect one.Results focusIt’s not enough to keep a store going- managers will also be responsible for performing well according to different metrics, whether it’s a store’s financial performance, sales goals, employee goals, customer feedback, etc. It’s crucial to understand what these criteria are that you’ll need to meet and focus your attention on hitting them.ProfessionalismAs mentioned before, the retail manager will often need to step in and be the grownup in cases of conflict or customer complaints. A professional demeanor at all times is very necessary.Math skillsRetail managers are often responsible for extensive reporting and analysis when it comes to a store’s finances and budgets, so being able to do the math efficiently and accurately is important.Negotiation skillsWhether it’s trying to create an employee schedule without causing a revolt or trying to get a better deal from vendors, knowing how to negotiate your way out of any situation is a powerful tool for a retail manager to have.Engaging people skillsRetail managers are not solo acts, so they have to be able to inspire their teams to do work together for the common good of the store. Fear and anger are not the best motivational tools around, so it’s essential to have the skills to be able to get people to want to do their best work- and to motivate them when they don’t necessarily want to do it.What is the potential career path? â€Å"Retail management† can seem like an end goal in and of itself, so if you haven’t thought much yet about the nuances of what you can do once you get to that point, you’re not alone. Once you get a certain level of management experience, those skills are very transferable all over the retail landscape. You may decide to specialize in a particular area, like one of the following:MerchandisingMarketingPersonnel managementCustomer serviceTrainingOperationsWarehousingOnce you have skills and experience, you may find that different management opportunities may open up even within the same company.What kind of salary can you expect?According to salary.com, retail managers can make a pretty wide range of salaries, with a median between $48,091 and $65,734. Specific salary depends on factors like experience and location.What is the outlook for retail management?Retail itself may be changing with the times, but the need for retail isn’t. Companies will always be selling goods, products, and services, and will always need qualified leaders to help them do that in the most efficient and profitable ways possible. Retail management is a career with solid opera tional foundations, and will continue to be an in-demand career path for those with the experience, leadership skills, and the commitment to customer service.If you’re looking for help with your resume,  you can also download free templates from our Resume Library to get started.

The Importance of First Hand Information Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The Importance of First Hand Information - Essay Example It is necessary to note that history is among those fields that are diverse, and its objectives and goals are clearly distinguished. History can make us understand the situations of the past in different countries because they reflect the character of the nation. In addition, history enables us to be acquainted with the prophets’ biographies as well as policies and the dynasties of rulers in the past (Khaldun, 1989). Therefore, the essence of the paper is to discuss the importance of first-hand information. Moreover, it focuses on Khaldun’s criterion for accepting first-hand information, his arguments, as well as the standards he uses to evaluate historical information. Khaldun argued that there is very little effort undertaken to unearth the truth of the past in history. Mistakes and unsupported assumptions are common elements found in past historical events. Khaldun added that blind trust in tradition is a common trait in a man. He holds the notion that nobody is courageous to stand up against the truth authority, and, therefore, there is a need to fight speculations about the past and deceitful information in history through first-hand information. He opined that it takes time and commitment to look critically at the hidden truth. Furthermore, he acknowledges that it takes knowledge and proper understanding to bring out the truth about the past as well as polishing it so that critical insight can be used. In addition, he noted that first-hand information could provide deep understanding of history and concrete explanation of the genesis and causes of things that currently exist. Moreover, it would provide deep understanding of why and how events occurred (Khaldun, 1989). Historical information requires credible sources and diverse knowledge. It also needs thorough and an excellent mind. However, having these

Manager's Role in an Organization's Ethical Policies and Practice Essay

Manager's Role in an Organization's Ethical Policies and Practice - Essay Example To better establish the prime importance of ethics in making organisational decisions, he first section of the paper centres on the following questions: How should ethics be defined and viewed in organisations and how do ethical and unethical practices impact on the organisation and society as a whole? However, understanding the importance of ethics for business organisations is one thing, but defining who shall take the lead to ensure ethical policies and practice in the organisation –the board or the manager – is another thing. The second section of the paper discusses this question by delving into the decisive role that managers play in the organisation. It asserts that the role of managers in the organisation’s ethical policies and practice is actually more compelling than that of the Board. In fact, the manager’s ethical misconduct and abuse of discretion had caused the downfall of many corporations. Although it is true that the Board takes the higher stake in the organisation than the manager; it is the manager who exactly deals with the in and out daily operation of the organisation. Organisational Ethics Policies and Practice Ethics essentially pertains to what is right and wrong (Sims 2003, p. 7; Lerbinger 1997, p. 293), good and bad, virtuous and evil or that which illustrates fairness, justice and due process, for example not harming others, respecting others, dealing honestly, helping those in need, fulfilling promises and contracts, and more (Lerbinger 1997, p. 293). When ethics is to be incorporated in organisational policies Whitton (2009) emphasises two dimensions: first, that policies should encourage ethical conduct by the rank and file – this includes specific policies on ‘giving and receiving personal gifts, ancillary employment, conflict of interest situations, patronage, political activity, fraud, harassment, political activity, and whistleblower reporting of defined wrongdoing’; and second , that policies should encourage ethical management to safeguard the integrity of the organisation – this concerns policies that define criteria for ‘competent financial management, merit based recruitment and advancement, transparent accountability for ... decision-making, effective protection of [those] who disclose misconduct, fraud and corruption, meaningful program evaluation, and workable disciplinary processes’. As such, Whitton furthers that organisational ethics policy is an assurance that the organisation will live-up to what it commits itself to promote, provide and serve and that it will conduct itself fairly, giving due consideration not only to itself but to society at large. (p. 2) Similarly, this is what Lerbinger (1997) refers to as corporate social responsibility, which to him transcends the law. (p. 293) Evidently so, Whitton (2009) has rightly stated that effective ethics policy must always be considered part of the organisation’s ove rhead cost, because failure to do so would be more costly to the organisation and the society as a whole. In other words, organisations should always pay attention to ethical issues to avoid greater loss. For example data show that, US businesses are losing $40 billion

Cultural Competency Assessment Paper Essay Example for Free

Cultural Competency Assessment Paper Essay Culture is a very difficult term to define. However, certain people have gone on and defined culture well by saying that it is a ‘set of shared values, opinions and practices of a community or group of people. ’ (Definition of Culture) The importance of the understanding of a socio-cultural environment of any country is imperative to attaining business advantage and eventually translatable success. This understanding of socio-cultural environment is then translated effectively into business practices so that they appeal to the local crowd and create a positive image of the firm in their minds. (Cultural Barriers) More and more organisations today face a dynamic and changing environment. This, in turn, requires these organisations to adapt. Hence, it is important to consider the changing nature of the workforce. Most organisations, today, have to adjust to cope up with a multi-cultural environment. Human resource policies and practices have to change in order to attract and keep this more diverse workforce motivated and willing to work. And many organisations have to spend large amounts of money on training to upgrade various skills of the employees. There is a definite downside to the resistance to change and that is hindrance to the process of adaptation and progress. It doesn’t necessarily surface in a standardized manner. Resistance can be overt, implicit, immediate, or deferred (Robbins, 2004). It is easiest foe the management to deal with resistance when it is overt and immediate. For instance, a change is proposed and employees quickly respond by voicing complaints, engaging in a work slowdown, threatening to go on a strike, etc. The greater challenge is managing change when it is implicit or deferred. Implicit resistance efforts are more subtle, like, loss of loyalty to the organisation, loss of motivation to work, increased errors or mistakes, increased absenteeism, etc (Robbins, 2004). Similarly, deferred actions cloud the link between the source of the resistance and the reaction to it. Empathy is the ability to understand the emotional makeup of other people. Empathy is the trait that enables a leader to be an expert in building and maintaining talent. It enables him to treat people according to their emotional reactions. This is why he can be successful in getting the most out of the talented people that work under him; it thus makes him a better man manager. He is able to manage and lead people from various different backgrounds and cultures, belonging to various social and economic classes, i. e. it increases the cross-cultural sensitivity of the leader himself. With the businesses and economies globalising, leaders have to lead and manage people belonging to different cultures which is the major reason why change management in such a scenario is very difficult, however, if only a leader can empathize with his followers, it makes the job half as difficult as before. The Cultural Competency Assessment Responses portrays a wonderful picture of the cultural competency assessment test; the responses were positive and the personal taking the test were satisfied with this tool, Cultural Competency Assessment as exhibited in their responses was informational, people started thinking in a different direction, and enhanced learning amongst different culture, it is essential when we are dealing with human lives in terms of health, healing wellness. Cross -cultural communication utilizes language and culture to shape human behaviour and facilitating them. In fact the two also influence each other. Cultural impacts on human behaviour are widespread and influence important aspects of human behaviour. In comparison, influence of language on human behaviour is subtle but still significant. Further Cultural Competency Assessment includes life cycle events add value to the program by helping people of different culture comprehend the cultural diversity of adolescents or the elderly, which prepare individual to interact with people of diverse culture for the betterment of their career in medicine. Gathering good history of the patients is significant for finding and giving the right treatment, using deductive reasoning to arrive to a diagnosis. So life cycle events enhances the health care delivery process for its betterment. Cultural competence is the capability to interact efficiently among individuals of diverse cultures. It encompasses four components attentiveness of ones own cultural worldview, approach towards cultural differences, Knowledge of different cultural practices and worldviews, and cross-cultural Skills. Building cultural competence results in an capability to comprehend, communicate with, and efficiently interact with people across cultures. These components if implemented properly are very effective in Building cross cultural communication competence. Further, when an organization focuses on developing such competences in their employees, the benefits are more then the cost incurred as high-impact managerial teaching builds personal effectiveness amongst worker, Improve communication, efficiency, and productivity for persons, teams, and the whole of the organizations. Further better understanding of the needs of people from different cultural backgrounds will help employees to work as a team more effectively. To comprehend the Cultural competence, Diversity training should be given to the employees for Building cross cultural communication effectiveness, Cultural competence have become essential at present era when our organization are full of people of different culture which has led most management to cater diversity management of the organization by taking such measure for the betterment of the organization. The recommendations I would like to state for the facilitation of the organization is Cultural competence Diversity training which will facilitate in designing strategies, action plans, development, and training matched to people’s current state of affairs. Further to develop the ability to correspond with other people of different culture which will help in building team effectiveness, team building by implementing tailored strategies to cater each diverse teams needs. I would like to conclude by adding that Cultural competence will add value to the organization operation and will lead to the betterment of the organization. References 1. Robbins, Stephen P (2004). Organizational Behavior. Prentice Hall. 2. Cultural Barriers to Effective Communication. (n. d. ). Retrieved from www. ncbi. nlm. nih. gov/pubmed/9461923

Essay on Sophocles Antigone :: Antigone essays

Antigone was a selfless person with pride as a strong characteristic of her personality.   She possibly had feelings of loneliness and anger from the way society has looked upon her family from their past.   It took a strong willed person who has no fear of the repercussions to stand up to a king as she did.   To make everything all the worst she stood up to a king who was her Uncle and she being a female back in those time, standing up and speaking out for herself was not heard of. Having already been through public disgrace, when her own father, Oedipus found out that he was to fulfill a prophecy; he would kill his father and marry his mother, and this caused Antigone to be full of resentment toward her city.   Both of her brothers die in a battle and, Creon, the king of Thebes forbids the burial of one of her brothers, Polynices.   This must have driven Antigone to follow her moral law.   Considering the love she had for her family as well as her God, she felt that you react upon morals not upon the laws of man.   That morale law was to honor her brother and give him the respectful and proper burial that he deserved just as her other brother was given.   The love she had for her family was the only thing she had left to honor.   Ismene, Antigone’s sister was more fearful of the king’s law then the way her heart was leading her.   Her values were slightly distorted.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Creon finds out that Polynices was buried and this disgusted him so much that his anger was probably bubbling up in the pit of his stomach as if he was on fire.   How could anyone defy him?   What happens with the respect he deserves from his kingdom?   He knew in his mind if something sever was not done about this; his kingdom would not look up to him as he should be looked up to.   Where would he stand in societies eye?   He sent an order to find this person and bring him or her back to face the penalty of death. Antigone was caught and death was the price to pay as ordered by Creon, not to her surprise.   Death to Antigone seemed wanted, it was the only thing left as honor for her.   Haemon, the son of Creon and Antigone’s fiancà © has enough respect for his father that he does not interfere with Creon's decision to put Antigone to death. Essay on Sophocles' Antigone :: Antigone essays Antigone was a selfless person with pride as a strong characteristic of her personality.   She possibly had feelings of loneliness and anger from the way society has looked upon her family from their past.   It took a strong willed person who has no fear of the repercussions to stand up to a king as she did.   To make everything all the worst she stood up to a king who was her Uncle and she being a female back in those time, standing up and speaking out for herself was not heard of. Having already been through public disgrace, when her own father, Oedipus found out that he was to fulfill a prophecy; he would kill his father and marry his mother, and this caused Antigone to be full of resentment toward her city.   Both of her brothers die in a battle and, Creon, the king of Thebes forbids the burial of one of her brothers, Polynices.   This must have driven Antigone to follow her moral law.   Considering the love she had for her family as well as her God, she felt that you react upon morals not upon the laws of man.   That morale law was to honor her brother and give him the respectful and proper burial that he deserved just as her other brother was given.   The love she had for her family was the only thing she had left to honor.   Ismene, Antigone’s sister was more fearful of the king’s law then the way her heart was leading her.   Her values were slightly distorted.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Creon finds out that Polynices was buried and this disgusted him so much that his anger was probably bubbling up in the pit of his stomach as if he was on fire.   How could anyone defy him?   What happens with the respect he deserves from his kingdom?   He knew in his mind if something sever was not done about this; his kingdom would not look up to him as he should be looked up to.   Where would he stand in societies eye?   He sent an order to find this person and bring him or her back to face the penalty of death. Antigone was caught and death was the price to pay as ordered by Creon, not to her surprise.   Death to Antigone seemed wanted, it was the only thing left as honor for her.   Haemon, the son of Creon and Antigone’s fiancà © has enough respect for his father that he does not interfere with Creon's decision to put Antigone to death.

Book summary of “A Spectator’s guide to Jesus” Essay

John Dickson, an Honorary Associate in the Department of History in Macquarie University, unfolds the myths and the religiosity that often blurs the image of Jesus. Dickson explores the many roles and identities that are given to Jesus, healer, teacher, Christ. â€Å"A Spectator’s guide to Jesus† is a book dedicated to discovering the truth to the most controversial religious topics, from Jesus’ replacement of the temple, his divineness, meaning of his death and his words and deeds that inspire. In the first chapter, â€Å"How we know what we know about Jesus?† Dickson discusses the certainty of Christianity, mentioning the various ancient manuscripts of Jesus from the Greco-Roman references, to the writings of the New Testament. Dickson then comes to discuss the plausibility of the Bible. Since Paul and Mark had independently offered similar descriptions of Jesus’ life and teaching, and because we know these sources are not copied from each other, we have to assume their information was both early and widely known. After proving the encounters of Jesus as extremely likely events, Dickson’s main concern in the second chapter, â€Å"His words and their impact† is emphasising on Jesus’ words of the Christian character of sex, marriage, prayers, wealth, food and body, caring for those in need, loving enemies and divine mercy. The words of Jesus as mentioned in the Gospels, impact on the way humans should live their lives and have an understanding for humanity. Dickson confronts the problems for society believing in miracles since they occur only in small-minded children’s tales. In Chapter 3, â€Å"The deeds that baffle,† Dickson explains Jesus’ stunning miracles as a preview of God’s coming kingdom. Dickson argues that if one was to see that there were no forces in the universe other than the observable laws of nature, then a matter of uncertainty will occur. While if one believed in the miracles of Jesus, the whole puzzle would be completed. In Chapter 6, Dickson explores the human nature of ignoring the rules that God had set up for us, we tend to modify these rules to suite our own preferences. It is in this chapter that Dickson explores the role of Jesus, to overcome the wrongs of this world on behalf of God and also represent God as a loving creator. An example of Jesus’ role is explored in the previous  chapter (4), where Jesus and God had saved the Israelites from the tyrannous Egyptian invasion, under the command of the famous Pharaoh Ramses II. Dickson points out in Chapter 7 of Jesus’ death and resurrection which had borne divine judgement for all those who accept his hand of friendship. Jesus’ openness towards sinners was a deliberate sign of God’s grace unlike the Jewish way of rejecting non-Jews. Jesus’ preaching declared that his suffering and scandalous social life embodied grace in a tangible way. Through his meals with the undeserving, he sought to demonstrate the friendship with sinners he believed God so keenly desires. Jesus’ acting as a replacement of the temple in Chapter 8 not only suggests a mere religious radical, but the thought of allowing the whole community to embrace the Messiah. Chapter 9, â€Å"The meaning of his death,† as Dickson once again assesses, is the aim of Christ’s mission. Christ had died for us to win God’s forgiveness, â€Å"cancel his judgement and guarantee us a place in his kingdom.† Chapter 9 is a follow on from Chapter 5 which described the significance of Jesus’ title. Dickson tells of the importance of the title ‘Christ’, an Anglicised form of the Hebrew name Yeshua, which had endowed his divine authority as ‘saviour’, rescuing people from divine judgement. Dickson also explains the significance of the traditional Passover themes of ‘blood’ and ‘forgiveness’ of God’s people. God’s judgement would fall upon the lamb (Jesus) so that it might pass over ‘sinners’. Chapter 10, 11 and 12 shows the importance of Christ’s resurrection which had shaped the Christian belief of the afterlife. Christ rising to life is central to the biblical faith and not merely because it marks out his life as a unique moment of history, but because in it God shows he is willing and able to breathe a new life where there is currently death and disorder. Dickson then makes the comparison between ‘The Great Caesar’ who conquered a massive empire with the imperialness of Jesus. Nonetheless, Dickson emphasises the fact that God is more significant than Caesar, every empire will pass into oblivion while Christ’s kingdom reigns all and forever. In Chapter 12, Dickson talks of Christs and God’s divineness. The letter from  the Roman administrator Pliny to Emperor Trajan in AD110 indicates Jesus’ oneness with the almighty, â€Å"Jesus is the image of the invisible God.†Dickson uses irony in the last chapter. For centuries, the church has been seen as the preacher and basis of knowledge for the Christian faith, but Dickson questions the church’s battle for power, land, and welfare over the preference for the lowly and contrasts this with Jesus’ non-violent and dutiful service towards humanity. The Epilogue portraits a follower of Jesus’, one who must endure the shame and unworthiness as a sinner, but in the end, â€Å"All earthly empire will pass into oblivion while the kingdom of true Caesar reigns all.†Assessment of the book’s strength and weaknessesI particularly enjoy the concept of this novel being written for the average person; not a scholar novel. It allows the average person to understand and interpret for themselves where Christianity really lies upon, not the clichà ©, inaccurate summaries. As Dickson pointed out, â€Å"studying the life of Christ is like dropping half-way through a conversation,† you can become mislead and often criticise the faith when you have only heard part of the big story. But in â€Å"A Spectators guide to Jesus,† Dickson offers detailed background knowledge to conflicts, events, other religions, Old Testament and Gospel references. The author makes many comparison of the events associated with Jesus, an example was Joe Louis, the professional boxer. â€Å"The lads knew they were messing with the wrong person,† this situation is similar to what we have done to Jesus as Dickson indicates, â€Å"We laughed at him and harassed him for being different and we would never have realised we were wrong till we saw the Son of God through our own eyes.† I find it extremely easy to interpret the events and concepts associated with Jesus when Dickson relates it to modern day events. I see this book as a spectacular outline to the purpose of human existence, however, there are weaknesses. An atheist reading this book would easily see the weakness to Christianity, â€Å"If humans are so unwilling to believe these days, and if God is so great than how hard is it for him to appear in front of everyone?† Dickson should have considered the significance of the Holy  Spirit which continues to prove the presence of God (Chapter 3). On other occasions, Dickson seemed to be too irrelevant. In Chapter 6, Dickson first discusses the human preference to modify rules, he then tells of our lack of compassion for others. Nonetheless, â€Å"A spectators guide to Jesus† remains to be an incredible book through its inspiring words and debate on the man from Nazareth. Reflection of the books contents to the concerns of the reviewerIn Chapter 2, Dickson shows a selection of teachings of Jesus. A practical implication that captivated me was one of Jesus’ teachings, â€Å"Love for enemies.† In Luke 6:27-36, it spoke, â€Å"Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that.† I can see myself relating with this passage. In year six, a student confronted me and yelled curses at me. I responded with fat insults about him. I instantly felt the pride and rise in self-esteem. But the next day, I saw the kid had become depressed and outraged as a result of my insults. I felt bad. The following week, a different kid yelled insults at me, but this time I didn’t curse back, instead I told him that we could be friends and there is no point in being enemies. Ever since that day we became good friends. I see there being no need for hatred. What can you lose from being nice? You can only gain from being a kind and wise person, similar to the character of Jesus that Dickson depicts through historical sources. If everyone respects their enemy, the world would be a better place. Another way in which I felt the book had related to my beliefs was Dickson’s view on the meaning of Jesus’ death, implying that there must be a God which controls everything. I really don’t see our purpose to life through science. Everything around me is so perfect, from the smallest creature on earth to the biggest stars in the sky. I don’t have to be a genius to spot the missing puzzle, the question to human existence lies nowhere but the fact that there is a God who had created everything, we became sinners and his son Jesus had saved us from Divine judgement, according to Dickson (Chapter 3). http://www.sydneyanglicans.net/mission/resources/a_spectators_guide_to_jesus_john_dickson/

American Chemical Corporation Analysis Essay

Executive Summary American Chemical Corporation’s Collinsville plant in Alabama is being sought by Dixon a speciality chemicals company. This plant mainly specialises in Sodium Chlorate production and fits well with Dixon’s strategy of supplying chemicals to paper and pulp industry. It would also complement Dixon’s existing product line. The plant costs $12million in investment and requires up to$ 2.25 million for upgrading to new technology. An in-depth investigation and analysis is conducted for both the company and the industry to accurately determine the worth of investment in the Collinsville plant. Net present values are calculated for all possible scenarios. After a thorough analysis of the data, suitable recommendations are provided. Introduction Dixon, an American specialty chemical producer, wants to buy Collinsville plant from American Chemical Corporation, another typical chemical company  in 1979. Dixon wants to diversify its product line by acquiring the aforesaid plant, which produces sodiumchlorate to supply to paper producers in South-eastern part of the US. This plant initially cost USD 12 million and additional USD 2.25 million needed to buy laminate technology to increase efficiency and profitability of the plant in order. About The Collinsville Plant American Chemical Corporation’s plant in Collinsville had the capacity to produce 40000 tons of sodium chlorate per year. Sodium chlorate is produced via the electrolytic decomposition of salt, water and energy. The important factors for us to consider regarding sodium chlorate is where the demand for this chemical comes from. 85% of demand for the product is derived from the paper and pulp industry, where it is used in the production of the bleach that is used to whiten the paper. The remaining 15% comes from its use as a soil sterilant, in uranium mining and in the production of other chemicals. Sodium Chlorate Market in USA Bargaining Power of Customers * Customers include Paper & Pulp Producing Companies like Georgia Pacific and Universal * Because of high competition among the sodium chlorate producers, the bargaining power is being increased. * The demand is also increasing at the rate of 8 to 10% per year with extra usage in the plant effluent problems of paper corporations.| Competition within Industry * Highly Competitive Market * Market Leaders like Hooker, Pennwalt, American & Kerr-McGee have more than 55% of the US Market * Huge number of small medium enterprises with active shares in the sodium chlorate market in US * Paper Companies like Universal also have their own NaClO3 plants actively participating in the competition. * Companies like Brunswick and Southern are specialised only in NaClO3 production| Threat of New Entrants * Union Chemicals and Lousiana Paper Company have already announced their entry into the competition with 40000 and 35000 tons plants respectively| Threat of Substitutes * Graphite Rods used in the production of NaClO3 are being replaced with Metal or Laminate rods. * This would eliminate graphite costs and also reduce power costs by approx. 30%| Issues surrounding Collinsville opportunity 1. Impact on revenues: Reduction in margins due to overcapacity: Although sodium chlorate prices were expected to increase, the overcapacity would cause number of tons to reduce (competition) and therefore, hit the margins. 2. Impact on costs: Increase of electricity from $0.019 in 1977 per kWh to $0.025 per kWh in 1979. Besides, due to upward revaluation of assets, depreciation was expected to increase. 3. Impact from adoption of technology: Depreciation would increase and Dixon was required to pay all costs related to the installation of laminated electrodes. 4. Impact of Financing of acquisition: Temporarily increase Debt to capital ratio to 47%. Target debt to capital ratio: 35% Valuation The Next important step is the valuation of sodium chlorate plant i.e. Collinsville Plant for Dixon Company. The given values and assumptions are summarised in the following tables: Using NPV Rule for the project – Without Laminated Electrodes [Details of the expected values is given in Exhibit 1 As the table is clearly indicating the net present value is a negative value if the Collinsville Plant is valued assuming that the graphite rods are not substituted with the laminate ones. This project may not be profitable considering this negative value. Using NPV Rule for the project – With Laminated Electrodes [Details of the expected values is given in Exhibit 2] For calculating the NPV of project in case of Laminated Electrodes, the power costs are reduced by 20%. The Graphite costs are taken as zero since there is no utilisation of graphite in the newer technology. Also the capital expenditures for first year are taken as 2.5 million $(the cost of project). Now, the NaClO3 plant in Collinsville is valued using discounted cash flow assuming the plant would operate using new replaced laminate electrodes when they become available. In this project, it is founded out that the Net present value is positive suggesting the project is profitable if $2.25mn of laminate electrodes is included in the overall $12mn deal. Calculations of Beta The systematic risk of the project could be the risk of the production of sodium chlorate in the industry. Therefore, we calculate beta of the project based on the beta of the sodium chlorate industry. The beta of Brunswick and Southern will be used to calculate the Beta un-leverd for the firm because the two firms purely produce sodium chlorate. Their Beta will be first unlevered. Then weighted average of those un-levered Betas will be used to calculate the levered beta of the firm. Debt/Equity ratio For calculating levered Beta we take Dixons target capital structure (D/E ratio of 35%). Financing by the debt package will temporarily increase Dixon’s D/E ratio to .47. But we take .35 as the D/E ratio for calculation as the company will ensure that it maintains its target D/E ratio in the long run. Monte Carlo Analysis Monte Carlo analysis is used to gauge the sensitivity of free cash flows on the Net present value of the project. This is used to simulate various sources of uncertainty inherent in the cash flows. Monte Carlo Analysis is performed on both the relevant scenarios in the case and the variations are plotted in a graph. For the Unlaminated factory After installing lamination Recommendations Basing on our detailed calculations following recommendations are made to Dixon Corporation * The net present value (NPV) of Collinsville plant (without the lamination technology) comes out as -0.89 million. Since the NPV value is negative it is advisable not invest in this project and company should pursue other alternatives. * If the new Lamination technology is installed in the Collinsville plant then the Net present value comes out as $10.919 million. This is attributed mainly to the huge savings in power and graphite costs. Even though it requires a $2.5 million extra investment, the benefits far outweigh the costs. Because of a high NPV value it is advisable to invest in the Collinsville plant and install the lamination technology. This investment will not only create synergies because of the similarity in the business but also add value to shareholders wealth. * If terminal values are taken as zero (assuming no residual value)then the NPV of Collinsville plant comes out as -$2.928 million. And after installation of lamination the NPV becomes as 3.6 million $. Because of the high NPV value in the later scenario it is advisable to implement advanced Lamination technology while investing in Collinsville plant.

Report on the Weather Man

Report on the Weather Man Free Online Research Papers In the Weather Man, the director Gore Verbinski presents a middle-aged man’s mingled relationship with his father, ex-wife, children, and job in a special period of time. In the first few scenes, the main role, Dave Spritz, lost his decent job with high payment. And the longtime marriage problems with his wife emerged from being underwater. He was informed of his father’s cancer being in the last stage. Almost at the same time, his two young children, a son and a daughter, had the underage problems separately. In spite of all these hindrances mentioned above, Dave went all out to adapt to resolve them. On one hand, he applied to different kinds of jobs. On the other hand, Dave made efforts to reverse the bad combination with his family: he accompanied his father to the hospital, went to the psychological doctor with his wife, spared some time with his young children. However, those efforts seemed that they worked very little. Dave and his wife got divorced, and the two children were given to their mother by law. Very soon, the woman got married, which struck him a great deal. Whatsoever, Dave recovered from the bitter reality bit by bit through his never-ending pursuit and perseverance. In the end, he managed to save himself from these proble ms and to achieve social reputation. What impressed me most in this movie was the relationship between parents and their underage children, since we (the two children and I) were almost at the same age and I could easily feel as the same way as the minors of their age. At the beginning, I noticed one detail. When the daughter Shelly got ?100 from her father, she paid for cigarettes. Judged by her proficient actions, I saw a girl’s depravation as a result of family problems. As a girl of Shelly’s age, it was too young to bring herself a release from the irrecoverable painfulness caused by her unconcerned parents. â€Å"Family is the harbor of the heart.† But when a house became the first scene of parents’ frequent wars, people would lose earthly joys, and children always were the victims. They not only suffered from the body, but also from the spirit. There was another detail that I paid much attention to. Dave failed to buy what his wife had told, after returning they quarreled with each other violently. On hearing these, the two young children left the table at once. The son went to watch TV, and he kept turning up the TV; meanwhile, the daughter laid in bed with her ears covered, tears rolling down from her face. We always hear people say:† Children are guiltless. † But why children always had to undertake the worst result from family wars? Being unable to converse the serious family problems, the girl, Shelly, learnt to smoke. Worse still, her brother began to take drugs and was sued for stealing. These were the young children’s childish actions to fight against the severe situation which they had to confront with. They wanted to solve all these problems, and most importantly, they would like to win their parents’ attention and get their cares. As a spectator, I could say they were babyish, and I could say they were immaterial, but as a matter of fact, they had got all sympathizes of mine. If you asked me who was to blame, undoubtedly, I would condemn the parents. It was their indifference that led to the young children’s crime. They set a bad example when they were having a fierce quarrel over trivial things. Because of these repetitions, they failed to create an environment filled with love and care, respect and tolerance. This was an essential factor for young men’s growth and development. To my delight, the parents realized their faults at a relatively early stage, â€Å"This shit life we must chuck some things. We must chuck them in this shit life. Theres always looking after. You have time.† and they did all means to make up for their children. â€Å"Better later than never.† At first, what they had done seemed to be useless, but they didn’t give up and continued to do many practical things to help their children. Dave took his daughter to the shooting range, joined in the kangaroo jump with her, and accompanied her to buy suitable clothes. What’s more, his beating to the bad man who treated his son unjustly satisfied me greatly. Gradually, all these he had done changed my earlier point of view. Eventually, in my eyes, he had turned a qualified and responsible father. Of course, the mother’s efforts to take care of her two children deserved my respect. The movie ended with Dave’s success in his career. What I have learnt from this movie is that love means responsibility. We should love our family members, love our world, love our life, in other words, we should be responsible to what we love. Research Papers on Report on the Weather ManPersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoBook Review on The Autobiography of Malcolm XInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesRelationship between Media Coverage and Social andThe Spring and AutumnHonest Iagos Truth through DeceptionWhere Wild and West MeetHip-Hop is Art

Labor Unions During the Great Depression

Labor Unions During the Great Depression The Great Depression of the 1930s changed Americans view of unions. Although AFL membership fell to fewer than 3 million amidst large-scale unemployment, widespread economic hardship created sympathy for working people. At the depths of the Depression, about one-third of the American workforce was unemployed, a staggering figure for a country that, in the decade before, had enjoyed full employment. Roosevelt and the Labor Unions With the election of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932, government - and eventually the courts - began to look more favorably on the pleas of labor. In 1932, Congress passed one of the first pro-labor laws, the Norris-La Guardia Act, which made yellow-dog contracts  unenforceable. The law also limited the power of federal courts to stop strikes and other job actions. When Roosevelt took office, he sought a number of important laws that advanced labors cause. One of these, the National Labor Relations Act of 1935 (also known as the Wagner Act) gave workers the right to join unions and to bargain collectively through union representatives. The act established the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to punish unfair labor practices and to organize elections when employees wanted to form unions. The NLRB could force employers to provide back pay if they unjustly discharged employees for engaging in union activities. Growth in Union Membership With such support, trade union membership jumped to almost 9 million by 1940. Larger membership rolls did not come without growing pains, however. In 1935, eight unions within the AFL created the Committee for Industrial Organization (CIO) to organize workers in such mass-production industries as automobiles and steel. Its supporters wanted to organize all workers at a company - skilled and unskilled alike - at the same time. The craft unions that controlled the AFL opposed efforts to unionize unskilled and semiskilled workers, preferring that workers remain organized by craft across industries. The CIOs aggressive drives succeeded in unionizing many plants, however. In 1938, the AFL expelled the unions that had formed the CIO. The CIO quickly established its own federation using a new name, the Congress of Industrial Organizations, which became a full competitor with the AFL. After the United States entered World War II, key labor leaders promised not to interrupt the nations defense production with strikes. The government also put controls on wages, stalling wage gains. But workers won significant improvements in fringe benefits - notably in the area of health insurance  and union membership soared.

Effects Of The Commercial Culture On The Society Essay

Effects Of The Commercial Culture On The Society - Essay Example However, the private ownership and associated profit motive of economic ventures induce adverse effects on the society while some opinions identify economic benefits. The validity of the claim, therefore, depends on identifiable effects of the commercial culture on the society. The society has continually faced problems that range from economic to political, and fingers point to the commercial culture of capitalism and the media. The profit motive in the commercial sector plays an important role in food that people eat and to a great extent account for effects of other consumables. The emergence of economic concepts of cost minimization towards optimal profits plays a core role as capitalists seek less costly strategies to productions and marketing strategies for market control. In the food industry, for example, industrialization has transformed eating habits to commercially processed foods that are rich in chemicals and fats and expose consumers to eating disorders such as overweight. Using the media to penetrate into new markets also influences consumers towards the capitalists’ products and increases incidences of effects of industrial products (Twitchell 1). Economic effects of capitalism also support the claim that the commercial culture is responsible for depression and associated disorders among members of the society. Unlike in socialist culture where the society owns resources and collectivism ensures needs of every member of the society, capitalism concentrates excessive resources on a few individuals while a majority of members of the society remain in poverty and have to struggle for their needs. Human suffering due to lack of basic needs or wants, therefore, flourish in the society while a non-capitalist system would have resolved such conditions. The condition worsens by capitalists’ selfish interest that seeks to increase the capitalists’ possession at the expense of the working class  that mainly lives in poverty.

A Brief Analysis of the Development of English as a Global Language Essay

A Brief Analysis of the Development of English as a Global Language - Essay Example As the report declares social change will contribute to change in status of a language, as Gerry Knowles implies in a study of the history of language. This paper stresses that medium can become the official language of a country when it is adopted as the mother tongue and used by â€Å"such domains as government, the law courts, media, and the educational system. English did not achieve global status by way of one or two variables: several factors contributed to the process and arrival, factors which are part of a slowly evolving phenomenon that parallels the social changes experienced by numerous cultures over many eras. The culture of nationalism and the revolutions lead to worldwide expansion, as does the Industrial Revolution: electricity, roads, railroads, and airways introduce and facilitate transportation, commerce, migration. The farmer, no longer isolated in rural domains, picks up the local dialect or brings his own to the towns. Tradesmen, needing a common medium, trade words. With the printing press, administrations, and the London-based dialect passing to greater reaches, the shifts and adaptations make English both l ocalized and â€Å"normalised†. With education, standardised English is formalised. With film, television, and satellite technology, a trend is clearly toward the globalised. And with language change facilitated by the development of new technology that leads to improved communications.