Monday, August 24, 2020

The Malleable Yet Undying Nature of the Yellow Peril Essay example --

The Malleable Yet Undying Nature of the Yellow Peril Racial generalizations don't kick the bucket; they don't blur away. Despite the fact that Asian Americans today have accomplished model minority status according to the white greater part in America by taking care of our own problems through our probably tranquil, noble aura and coarse, overachieving hard working attitude, the particulars of the racial segregation we face continue as before today as they have since the primary Asians started settling all at once in the United States over a century and a half prior. At the base of this segregation is the possibility of a Yellow Peril, which, in the expressions of John Dower is the center symbolism of primates, lesser men, natives, kids, maniacs, and creatures who had extraordinary forces in the midst of a dread of attack from the dormant beast of Asia. Since its beginning in the late nineteenth century, the possibility of the Yellow Peril has hued the talk with respect to Asian Americans and has changed to and fro from clear, bigot de test, to charming terms of what Frank Chin portrays as supremacist love. in the midst of war, rivalry or financial struggle, Asian Americans are the malevolent adversary; in the midst of straightforwardness, Asian Americans are the model minority ready to absorb into American culture. What continues as before is that the separation, regardless of whether clear or not, is consistently there. The Yellow Peril initially turned into a significant issue in the United States in California during the 1870s when white common laborers workers, frightful of losing their positions in the midst of a monetary decrease, victimized the grimy yellow swarms from Asia, prompting the national Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 which precluded migration from China as well as restricted legitimate occupants from turning out to be residents. As per t... ...e consistently is an issue and I was basically naã ¯ve for deduction anything extraordinary. Works Cited Jaw, Frank and Chan, Jeffrey Paul. Supremacist Love. In Richard Kostelanetz, Ed. Seeing Through Shuck. New York: Ballantine Books, 1972. Dower, John. War Without Mercy: Race and Power in the Pacific War. New York: Pantheon Books, 1986. Minear, Richard. Dr. Seuss Goes to War: The World War II Editorial Cartoons of Theodore Seuss Geisel. New York: New Press, 1999. Petersen, William. Example of overcoming adversity, Japanese-American Style. The New York Times. January 9, 1966. Example of overcoming adversity of One Minority Group in U.S. U.S. News and World Report. December 26, 1966. Wu, Frank H. Yellow: Race in America Beyond Black and White. New York: Basic Books, 2002. Zia, Helen. Asian American Dreams: The Emergence of an American People. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2000.

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Primate evolution Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Primate advancement - Assignment Example The shortening of arms additionally happens and its centrality is to make running smooth since balance is kept up (Gebo and Severson 11). Cranial advancement is an eminent anatomical event. The size and limit of the mind shift over the different developmental gatherings. Primates built up a bigger cranial limit when contrasted with their prompt forerunners. For example, Homo habilis had a rough cranial limit of 600 cubic centimeters while Homo erectus had a cerebrum limit that extended somewhere in the range of 800 and 1100 cubic centimeters. The expansion in the mind limit was a constant procedure all through the advancement stages. The toes and fingers of the early primates were touchy. The most punctual structures had nails with a hook like adjustment making chasing reachable. The nails likewise filled in as defensive rigging against outer hostility. The forelimbs and the rear appendages had an opposable finger and an opposable toe individually. The opposable finger makes it simple to get a handle on articles and food. Since certain primates explored trees, the opposable fingers and toes made the getting a handle on of tree limbs simple in this manner empowering development along trees. The early types of man had an optically based life structures portrayed by front oriented eyes. Among individuals, the eyes face the sides of the skull. The front aligned eyes gave the primates a three-dimensional perspective on their condition. The vision is stereoscopic. Along these lines, the primates had a bigger field of vision covering before their

Friday, July 24, 2020

Effective Ways Of Handling Employee Grievance

Effective Ways Of Handling Employee Grievance We all complain about our bosses (mostly behind their backs).With that in mind, it would be silly to expect our employees (or juniors) not to complain about one thing or another in the workplace.To hear an employee complaining about having a hard time with their tasks, or even day to day interaction with other employees, is already something that happens in many different companies. How you handle these complaints can easily mean the difference between being the superboss everyone wants to work for and the dictator responsible for everybody’s problems. Most companies have measures in place to deal with those complaints and resolve any problems. These measures could be in the form of company policies or programs that specifically focus on resolving issues employees have within the workplace, whether it has something to do with their job or with their co-workers.The perspective shifts greatly when the complaints from employees are directed towards their employers. There has always been a stigma attached to employees complaining against their employer, and this goes back to the old times. Stories of masters and slaves have been told through the ages. If a slave openly expressed their opinions on what they considered to be the shortcomings of their masters, things did not end well.Don’t get excited. Your employees are not your slaves.Stories like those have been retold over and over as time went by, even as corporate and workplace cultures have evolved. Employees who complain against their employers were, more often than not, viewed as ungrateful, showing no gratitude because the act seems dangerously close to “biting the hand that feeds them”. That’s probably the reason why for a long time most employees would exploit all possible avenues of solving a problem before approaching the boss.Today, times have changed in favor of these employees and workers. Worker rights have certainly gained more recognition, and one indication is how complaints are now given more attention and actually taken seriously. Now, employees can make their complaints formal and they even have the right avenues and platforms to formally air their concerns.WHAT IS EMPLOYEE GRIEVANCE?Employee grievance is one of the many aspects of personnel management. If you try to go over the company policies and employee handbooks of companies, you are bound to find extensive discussion on employee grievance. But what is a grievance in the first place?Grievance is generally defined as a “real or imagined wrong, or other cause for protest that is a cause of distress”. In legalese, grievance is any “injury, injustice or wrong that affords reason for resistance, and its formal expression is in the form of a complaint”.In the context of bosses and their juniors, there is a more specific definition provided by HR practitioners. They define “employee grievance” as a specific complaint or formal notice of employee dissatisfaction related to the adequacy of pay or compensation, the job requirements, the current work conditions, or other aspects of their employment. Often, you will also hear employee grievance when employers are accused by employees to have committed a violation of the terms of an existing collective bargaining agreement.It is a complaint when the employee merely expresses his thoughts and opinions verbally, talking about it to anyone who cares to listen. It becomes a grievance when the employee formalizes it, mostly through putting the complaint in writing and submitting it to the appropriate authority t asked to look into the resolution of the complaint.It is comparable to a university setting. Students dissatisfied with certain aspects of the school administration can complain all they want, but it becomes a grievance once they file a collective petition against the university’s administration. Usually, the formal airing of the grievances is the only thing that results in action from the authorities.Handling employee grievances is a function of the company human resource management department. It makes sense, since the employees can hardly file their complaints against the person they are complaining about, can they? In these instances, the HR department acts as a semi-independent body. It is “semi” independent because, although they are part of the company’s administrative structure, their actions in investigating and helping resolve employee grievances must be independent and unbiased, with respect to the employer or the subject of the complaint.Employee grievance, altho ugh integrated into many company policies, remains to be a heavy and very sensitive issue. Each grievance must be given serious attention, and that falls on the shoulders of the HR or a grievance committee, if there is one formed within the organizational structure. The main task of these grievance committees is to look into the validity of the complaint.We are talking about having to air your dissatisfaction against the employer that essentially signs your paycheck, so it definitely takes a lot of guts to get out there and make your complaint formal. However, it is also a fact that there are some employees that make baseless accusations against their employers because they have their own agendas in mind. This is why employee grievance must be dealt with fairly and properly. TYPES OF EMPLOYEE GRIEVANCESEmployees will not complain for no reason. By identifying the types of employee grievances, we can immediately identify the reasons or causes of such complaints. The types of grievanc es are based on the nature of the complaint, and we will take a look at the most common ones.Employee compensation and benefitsA great bulk of employee grievance cases has something to do with the pay and benefit packages that employees receive â€" or do not receive â€" from their employers. This is the topic most unions take up with the management of the companies they belong to.For example, you may feel like you are undercompensated, or that your salary is not proportional to the level of your responsibilities combined with the bulk and complexity of the work you are actually doing. Other times, you may also feel that there are benefits that you are entitled to but are not being given. This is reason enough for employees to complain against their employers, and no doubt, if you feel that your employer is dong one of these, you’ll not hesitate to lodge your complaint.Attention may also be fixed on pay equity within the organization, with respect to the amount of work and the natu re of the job. In instances when the company grants pay increases or bonuses, if the incentives are not balanced, the group receiving lower incentives will make complaints that they will feel compelled to take to a formal level.Employment and personnel policiesEmployees’ complaints may also be spurred by layoffs, transfers and assignments. If you feel that you have been unfairly transferred to, say, a division or department where your skills are not really required, and your earlier efforts to ask for a reconsideration fail, chances are that you will feel compelled to formalize the complaint into a grievance.The grievance could also be due to some areas or clauses contained in the company’s personnel policies, such as the hiring and recruitment procedures, leave administration, and merit and promotion plans, to name a few.Workload and work distributionYou can also feel that you have been unfairly given more work than other people in the same rank. This clearly shows that there i s a problem with how the workload is distributed among the employees. All employees getting the same compensation should also get roughly the same volume of work and responsibilities.Aside from unfair distribution of work, the complaint may arise simply from the employees’ opinion that the company is working them to the ground. This is especially true in the case of companies that are going through lean times and have to employ cost-cutting measures. For example, efforts of the company to bring down costs could lead to you and the other employees in your department to put in more work outside your usual work hours.Here’s the catch: if the extra responsibilities will not be treated as overtime, you won’t be receiving any extra compensation and as a result, you will most certainly protest. You will definitely not listen to the explanation that the company is simply cutting down on costs. In other cases, you may be asked to take on more work, so that you are technically going to perform the work of two or three people. If you are asked to do so without a corresponding increase in your compensation, there is bound to be a problem.Your employer may have appealed to your good conscience to “sacrifice that much” for the company during tough times. During the first few months, you’re probably going to be all right with it. However, if that situation drags on longer, and it seems that the employer is getting comfortable and he shows no clear plans or intentions of setting it right after the company has regained its footing, then clearly, these are causes for concern.Work conditionsUnsafe workplaces and offices that pose potential physical harm and health problems to employees are also seen as valid reasons for a formal complaint. One of the best indicators of a company caring about its employees is the provision of a safe and clean working environment.Are you provided with the tools necessary to carry out your tasks? Are you working with well-functioning to ols, machinery and equipment? Is the workplace well-ventilated and properly lit? Needless to say, if these are not satisfactory, not only will they cause potential harm and injury to the employees, they will also bring about frustration and dissatisfaction.Management-employee relationsIn some cases, it is possible for you as an employee to feel a divide or a gap with management or your employer. Maybe you are having trouble gaining access to, and communicating with, the employer. One way to bridge that gap is to file a grievance.Unions exist to represent the interest of the employees to the management, and their primary focus is on unfair labor practices that harm the relationship between the management and employees.[slideshare id=64703087doc=managingdisciplineandgrievance-160804152859w=640h=330]THE EMPLOYEE GRIEVANCE PROCESSIn order to handle employee grievances, there must be a set of procedures or a process to be followed. The process may vary depending on the company, specifica lly its culture. Usually, we hear of grievance procedures being developed as part of collective bargaining agreements or company policies designed as a means of internal dispute resolutions. These are often contained in companies’ Formal Grievance Procedures and employee Handbooks.No matter what the differences are, however, these processes mostly follow a basic flow. The grievance process is set in motion once the grievance committee or HR has received the grievance of the employee in writing. Resolving it is done, generally, through a five-step process, as described below.1. The supervisor or a manager takes informal action.If you are the HR representative, or the person in charge of handling grievances in the company, you are supposed to inform the manager or supervisor that the employee directly reports to about it. You are basically letting them take the first step or first informal action, which is usually through a casual and discreet conversation with the employee who made the complaint.The purpose of this informal action is to try to settle the problem early on, without involving other members of the grievance committee. Perhaps a resolution can be reached before the problem becomes more serious and the grievance reaches a higher stage.It is also during this step that the grievance of the employee is acknowledged. The mere fact that you called the attention of his or her immediate supervisor is already an acknowledgement on your part that the employee has a grievance, and it has reached the proper eyes and ears. It is important to let the employee know that his thoughts or concerns are not being outright ignored, and that steps are going to be taken to address them.The supervisor or the person having the talk with the employee should demonstrate sensitivity and the ability to actually listen to what the employee has to say. No matter how, initially, the complaint may seem silly or nonsensical, there is a need to treat it seriously.If no settlement h as been reached at this early stage, the grievance will proceed to the next step. Often, the employee will be required to submit a grievance letter to formalize the whole thing.2. A formal meeting is held with the employee.The formal stage of the process begins and, this time, the grievance committee will take the reins. You will schedule a formal meeting with the employee, and it is in that venue where his grievance will be discussed in greater detail.The meeting should be held private. There are two parties that must be present during the meeting: you as a representative (and other representatives, if any) from the grievance committee and the employee who filed the grievance. In most cases, the employee may be accompanied by another co-worker.Witnesses may be invited. In the course of conducting the meeting, you may deem it necessary to call or invite other employees as witnesses that may provide valuable input regarding the grievance.Confidentiality is a must. The details about t he meeting taking place must be kept under wraps, strictly among the people involved. Thus, the location of the meeting should also be kept off-limits to outsiders or uninvolved individuals.The formal meeting is the appropriate venue to fully discuss the grievance of the employee, focusing on who, what, where, when, why and how the issue came to being. All accounts made by the employee as well as those of any witnesses during the meeting will be the basis in ascertaining whether the grievance is valid or not.Depending on its nature and complexity, the grievance may be resolved at this step. If it’s not solved, the process proceeds to the third step.3. Further investigation is conducted.If the grievance is so complex that it cannot be resolved during the formal meeting, there is a need to conduct further investigation.Fact and data gathering tasks are going to be conducted by members of the grievance committee. You may have already obtained more than the bare facts during the forma l meeting, but those are mostly one-sided, since the input was mainly from the employee. There might be a need to verify some facts that will support any decision that will be made about validity of the complaint.Usually, you will be going about it using the typical data-gathering methods, such as the conduct of interviews with other employees and key personalities to get more information that may shed some light on the grievance.4. A decision is made and communicated to the employee.The results of the formal meeting, and any further investigations conducted, will be the basis for the committee to decide whether the grievance is valid or not. Once a decision has been reached, you must communicate it to the employee.It is important to keep the employee informed of the progress of the investigation â€" and the entire grievance management procedure â€" every step of the way. It’s a matter of fairness and respect for the employee, and to ensure transparency in how the grievance is bei ng handled. This will also help him decide on the next steps to take regarding the complaint.If the grievance is valid, it may be resolved at this stage and your job is done. If the resolution is not to the employee’s satisfaction, you may have to take it to the next step.5. If the grievance is rejected, or it was resolved but the employee was not satisfied with the resolution, the grievance may be taken to the next level in the management hierarchy.The facts will be reviewed, and a decision will again have to be made to resolve the grievance. If, again, it is not resolved at that stage, it will be taken to another, higher, level of management. It may even reach a point where an outsider will be called in to arbitrate and provide a fresh perspective.The higher the level of management that the grievance goes up to, the more people will be involved. This is why, at the beginning, all efforts should be geared to settling the complaint as early as possible. This is because taking it f urther is bound to take more time and company resources.HOW TO MANAGE EMPLOYEE GRIEVANCEResolving employee grievance is usually not an easy task. The one thing that will assure handling it effectively is to approach it systematically, and that is through following the employee grievance process.On top of implementing a systematic grievance process, here are a few other things that you can do to ensure grievances of employees are properly managed and resolved.Find a permanent solution.Solve, do not troubleshoot. Your goal should be to come up with a solution that will, as much as possible, put the grievance brought by the employee to rest, rather than provide a temporary fix. A temporary fix is no solution at all, since the problem is bound to come up again, probably on a bigger scale, since the root cause is still there.Therefore, your goal should be to eliminate the root cause of the problem. Remove the reason for the employee’s complaint.Listen, and listen well.Remember, all gri evances put forth by employees must be heard and listened to. Even if they do not seem plausible at first, and even if they are brought up in very casual conversations, as if in passing. A complaint is a complaint, and it denotes dissatisfaction of an employee. No one wants a dissatisfied and frustrated employee.It is important for people who are in charge of carrying out the grievance process to be good listeners. This is the first step toward finding a resolution to the grievance. By listening, you are also encouraging the employee to be more confident in resolving his complaint. If the employee feels that he is simply being patronized and that he is not being taken seriously, he might take his complaint outside the company, resulting in litigation that will prove to be far more tedious, costly, and damaging to the company and its reputation.One mistake that you should avoid is to treat the employee with hostility and be wholly unwelcome about the fact that he is taking his concer ns forward. Three possible outcomes can be expected from this scenario. The first may involve the employee cowering and slinking away with his complaints. He may even start to feel guilty about trying to air his complaints, and he will feel guarded around others. You will then find him still working, but with dissatisfaction that continuously eats away at him, eventually affecting his job performance and productivity.The second possible outcome involves the courts, with the employee taking legal action against his employers if it is a violation that is against labor law. Finally, the employee can look for a different company to work for and you will have to restart the hiring process to look for a replacement.Clearly, we know what choice the company will prefer. It’s bad rep if your business is suddenly painted as a company that is so problematic its own employees are taking it to court in a legal battle.Respond quickly.This pertains to how swift and decisive the action will be on ce the grievance has been received. Some companies may take their time and drag their feet, probably hoping that the passage of time will eventually convince the employee to just forget about his complaint and give it up. But this approach may backfire, and the employee may add another complaint to the list, and that is on the slow progress in the handling of his grievance.Grievance proceedings should not be allowed to go on for months. Think about all the work that will be affected in the interim. Most likely, the employee will not be able to perform at his peak when it comes to his assigned tasks because a huge chunk of his attention is occupied by the question on when his concerns will be tackled by the grievance committee.In the same vein, as discussed earlier, once a decision has been arrived at, communicating the decision to the employee should also be done quickly. Do not put it off for later.Keep an open mind.This is in line with acknowledging that a grievance exists, even i f you are still in the process of determining whether it is valid or not. By showing skepticism and doubt, you are also showing that you already have prejudged the situation. This means that your objectivity will be shot, and the decision may not be as unbiased as you will later represent it to be.Being antagonistic and hostile is also counterproductive. Anyone tasked to handle employee grievance must maintain a degree of independence from their employer. Throughout the whole process, you should keep an open mind and get all the facts before arriving at conclusions and making decisions. Leave all your prejudices outside the door whenever you are sitting down to investigate the facts.Come up with alternative courses of actions.It is not enough to come up with a single course of action to resolve the issue. As much as possible, identify other options, just so you will have alternatives in the event that the first course of action will not be acceptable to the concerned parties. This i s so that you can cover all your bases and avoid wasting time in thinking of other solutions.If you already have a number of alternatives to choose from, the time to resolve the issue â€" as well as the costs and resources involved â€"will be cut down considerably.Keep all communication lines open.And not just during the investigation period. The employee should be able to connect and communicate with you and the other members of the grievance committee throughout the whole process, and even when it is over and the issue has been resolved, in case there are other things to follow up on.Be responsive whenever the employee reaches out to you. Schedule follow-up meetings when necessary, and ensure that the people involved are truly involved. Think of the grievance committee as one of the bridges that link employees to their employers, and if they are unable to communicate with the people in charge of handling grievances, then the essence of that “link” is gone.Document every step o f the grievance process.This is very important, not just as a matter of record or for future reference, but to be kept apprised and up to date on the progress of the process. A similar grievance may crop up in the future, and so you already have something to start on.The documentation will also come in handy when management decides to develop or improve its internal policies on personnel administration, worker and employee welfare, and similar management aspects and issues.Establish and implement good policies on handling employee grievance.Finally, the best thing that a company can do to handle employee grievances is to have a sound grievance machinery or system in place. This is to avoid complications in the future when employees file more complaints, because there is already a guide or a roadmap that can be followed by the grievance committee.This is also an indication of the acceptance of the company that there are bound to be grievances in the future, so the most logical thing to do is to be prepared for them. This preparedness actually puts the company in a good light, since it shows that they do pay attention to their employees, and they are making every effort to ensure that their people remain satisfied under their employ.Once these policies are established, it is even more important to see to it that they are fully and properly implemented. It will be a complete waste if perfectly sound grievance policies are there, but they are not used properly, so no problems are actually resolved. It goes without saying that post-implementation reviews must be conducted from time to time. The changing nature of the business landscape dictates that management must also ensure that policies are kept current and up to date.Handling employee grievance is perhaps one of the most undesirable aspects of human resource and business management. However, it plays a very crucial role in ensuring the smooth flow of operations and business processes in a company.All companies should aim for zero grievances from employees. In reality, however, this is too good to be true. What they can do is to handle these grievances smartly, swiftly and successfully, so that the normal operations of the business will not be disrupted, and the working environment remains harmonious.

Friday, May 22, 2020

How did the Prohibition Change the United States of...

The word Prohibition as stated in the World Book encyclopaedia refers to laws that are designed to prevent the drinking of alcoholic beverages. The enforcement of the Volstead Act in the United States of America (USA) saw the nationwide beginning of the prohibition on the 16th of January 1920. The Prohibition brought about a change in attitude for the people of the United States (USA). It caused an extreme rise in crime; encouraging everyday people to break the law and increased the amount of liquor that was consumed nationwide. Overall this law was a failure because a law can not be enforced on a democratic society with out the support of a majority. The effect of this mistake (prohibition) lingered on American (USA) society for many†¦show more content†¦The drinking of alcoholic beverages became an act of rebellion against authority from the beginning of Prohibition, especially among university students and flappers. Alcohol consumption did increase over Prohibition years, $40 million of liquor had been smuggled into the United States in 1924 alone and that did not include the amount of alcohol which people made illegally in their own homes, which was most likely consumed that same year as well. There was a decrease in the consumption of beer, because it had to be transported in large quantities, which made the substance difficult to hide, as a result prices of beer and other alcoholic substances which had to be transported in such large quantities skyrocketed. Once this had happened people began to turn to the more concentrated forms of alcohol or hard liquors, which were a lot easier to transport and as a consequence they were cheaper. Due to the increase in consumption of more concentrated forms of alcohol, people got drunk much faster than in pre - prohibition years. Consequently there were more alcohol related deaths during the Prohibition, due to a rise in alcohol consumption, as people were being poisoned by alcohol that was highly concentrate d and or poisoned. Deaths from poisoned liquor rose from 1,064 in 1920 to 4,154 in 1925. There are many views as to why the Prohibition failed. One of the main reasons was due to the fact that a law can not beShow MoreRelatedEssay about Why Prohibition was Repealed in 19332036 Words   |  9 PagesWhy Prohibition was Repealed in 1933 On the 16th January 1920 the prohibition law was introduced, yet almost immediately people began to question whether or to this law would work. People were finding it too easy to break these laws as secret saloons called speakeasies opened in cities everywhere. Those who smuggled the alcohol were known as bootleggers. It was easy for people to smuggle the alcohol into America because of the large border. 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Thursday, May 7, 2020

Immanuel Kant And Ayn Rand Essay - 970 Words

Philosophy is amongst the most difficult and challenging subjects anyone can discuss. Philosophy has changed throughout the years and it can be inquiring and critical. Most philosophers have different theories on how the world should be and there are many issues and questions that arise. What is real; what is truth; what is the good; is the mind something separate from the body; and are we free, or are our actions determined so that we no longer have any control or influence? Immanuel Kant and Ayn Rand are two Philosophers that are respected for their different philosophies. Their lives, influences, and thoughts of how we should be as a society are ideas that make them so different. For most people, to figure out who someone is and why they think the way they do, one has to step in to the other’s shoes to see who they are. Immanuel Kant was born into Pietism and was raised on traditional Lutheran values of humility and divine grace.3 He attended Collegium Frierician in Konigsberg, Russia, as a child then, later, attended the University of Konigsberg. He studied classics but, eventually, found interest in philosophy.3 When his mother passed, he was only thirteen, and his father died when he was twenty-two.3 Eventually, Kant left school and started working as a tutor for several families where he lived.3 As time passed, he found himself teaching Privatdozent at the University until he was forty-six.3 He also attained the position of a professor of logic and metaphysics.3Show MoreRelatedKantian Ethics And The Categorical Imperative Essay1581 Words   |  7 PagesAnalysis of Kantian Ethics and critiques In Elements of Pure Practical Reason Book, I, Immanuel Kant, a prominent late Enlightenment Era German philosopher discusses his most famous ethical theory, the â€Å"Categorical Imperative.† The â€Å"Categorical Imperative† is a proposed universal law in stating all humans are forbidden from certain actions regardless of consequences. 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The three perspectives will be Kant, Utilitarianism, and Ethical Egoism. Immanuel Kant Perspective Kant created the Categorical Imperative. It is based on ones duty to act as one ought to regardless of his or her personal desires. These categorical actions are based on reason, and that every rational person mustRead MoreProfessional Ethics10396 Words   |  42 PagesJournal of Accounting, Ethics Public Policy  Ã‚   Volume 3, Number 1 (Winter 2003), pp. 1†26 Ayn Rand and Contemporary Business Ethics   Ã‚   Stephen R. C. Hicks Introduction: business and the free society Advocates of the free society think of business as an integral part of the dynamic, progressive society they advocate. In the West, the rise of a culture hospitable to business has unleashed incalculable productive energies. Business professionals have taken the products of science and revolutionizedRead MoreLaw 368 Ethics And Professional Responsibility2016 Words   |  9 Pagesdeontological (duty-based) ethics. This belief system is the normative ethical position that judges the morality of an action based on the action s adherence to a rule or rules and is based on the ‘categorical imperative’ theory of German philosopher Immanuel Kant. That theory states that one should; â€Å"Act only on the maxim through which you can, at the same time will that it should become a universal law.† However, when viewed in this light one can see that Mr Surley’s maxim is flawed as it cannot be applied

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Thorn Queen Chapter Eight Free Essays

string(67) " borders the Rowan Land, and two of their villages are very close\." Kiyo was gone the next morning, as I’d suspected he would be. We’d stumbled inside to my little-used bedroom once it started raining, and his side of the bed was cold, telling me he’d left some time ago. I sighed, trying not to let the knowledge of him being with Maiwenn get me down, and headed out to see what was going on in Queen Eugenie’s domain. We will write a custom essay sample on Thorn Queen Chapter Eight or any similar topic only for you Order Now The first thing I picked up on was that everyone was really excited that it had rained. We’d returned to normal sunny conditions this morning, but last night’s rain had brought the land to life. Cacti bloomed. The trees seemed stronger. And while there were no ostensible signs of excess water, I could sense it in the ground and even slightly in the air. Had having sex caused it? Maybe. Maybe not. Regardless, I was pleased with my good deed. I made motions to leave, but Rurik stopped me. â€Å"Don’t you want to question the prisoners?† I paused. What I wanted was to go home, shower, and change into clean clothes. â€Å"Can’t you do that?† I asked. He frowned. â€Å"Well, certainly, but†¦Ã¢â‚¬  But it should be my job. That was the unspoken message. I suspected Aeson would have never done such a thing. He would have left it to thugs. I knew if I delegated it to Rurik, he’d do it without (much) complaint. There was something in his eyes, though, that told me he expected more of me than an ordinary monarch. I’d never expected to gain such regard from him-or to feel so uneasy about it. Rurik had pissed me off to no end in the past, but suddenly, I didn’t want to disappoint him. â€Å"Okay,† I said. â€Å"Let’s do it.† I’d interrogated plenty of monsters, gentry, and even humans in my day. But there was something weird about interrogating prisoners. It was strange enough to learn that I actually had a dungeon in the castle. There were even shackles on the wall, but thankfully, our two prisoners weren’t bound. They were a man and a woman, both ragged and sullen. He looked my age; she looked older. I entered the bronze-barred cell, Rurik and another guard behind me. I crossed my arms over my chest and swallowed my misgivings. I was Eugenie Markham, badass shaman and slayer of Otherworldly miscreants. This was no different from any of my other jobs. â€Å"Okay,† I told the prisoners, my voice harsh. â€Å"We can make this easy or hard. Answer my questions, and it’ll go a lot faster and smoother for all of us.† The woman glared at me. â€Å"We don’t answer to you.† â€Å"That’s the funny thing,† I said. â€Å"You do. You’re in my land. You’re under my rule, my jurisdiction.† She spat on the ground. â€Å"You’re a usurper. You stole the land from Aeson.† Considering the way power was always shifting in the Otherworld, I found that statement ludicrous. â€Å"Everyone’s a usurper here. And in case you haven’t heard, I didn’t steal the land from him so much as blow him up.† Her face remained hard, but I saw the slightest flicker of fear in the guy’s face. I turned to him. â€Å"What about you? You going to be reasonable? Are you going to tell me where the girls you kidnapped are?† He nervously glanced at his companion. She gave him a hard look, its message easily interpretable: Don’t talk. I sighed. I didn’t want to resort to torture. All-powerful ruler or not, it was just an ugly thing I didn’t want to dirty my hands with. I had a feeling my iron athame pointed at their throats would go a long way to get them to communicate. Instead, I opted for another solution. Producing my wand, I stepped away from the others and spoke the words to summon Volusian. The momentary cold descended upon us, and then the spirit stood before me. Rurik and the guard were growing accustomed to this, but the prisoners gasped. â€Å"Volusian,† I said. â€Å"Got a task for you.† â€Å"As my mistress commands.† I gestured to the prisoners. â€Å"I need you to put muscle on them. Get them to talk.† Volusian’s red eyes widened slightly, the closest he ever came to looking happy. â€Å"But you can’t kill them,† I added hastily. â€Å"Or hurt them-much.† The pseudo-happiness disappeared. â€Å"Start with the guy,† I said. Volusian sidled across the cell and was only reaching his hand out when the guy cracked. â€Å"Alright! Alright! I’ll talk,† he cried. â€Å"Stop, Volusian.† The spirit stepped back, his glum expression growing. â€Å"I don’t know anything about girls disappearing,† the man said. â€Å"We aren’t taking them.† â€Å"You’ve been preying on people,† I pointed out. â€Å"And girls have been vanishing near your base of operation. Seems kind of suspicious.† He shook his head frantically, eyeing Volusian warily. â€Å"No, it’s not us.† â€Å"Have you heard of them disappearing?† â€Å"Yes. But it’s not us.† His words were adamant. â€Å"Yeah, well, I find it hard to believe they’re all running off. If it’s not you, then who is it?† â€Å"You’re a fool,† the woman snapped. â€Å"What would we do with a group of girls?† â€Å"The same thing men usually use girls for,† I replied. â€Å"We can barely feed our own people! Why would we take on more mouths to feed?† That was kind of a good question. â€Å"Well, you still haven’t really given me another explanation.† â€Å"We heard a monster’s doing it,† the man blurted out. â€Å"A monster,† I repeated flatly. I looked over to Rurik who simply shrugged. I turned back to the prisoners. â€Å"Any details on this monster?† Neither responded. It was strange, particularly considering how some prejudiced part of me still regarded most gentry as dishonest, but I believed them about not taking the girls. I thought the monster explanation was bullshit, but they might honestly have believed it to be true. Volusian took a step forward without my command, and the guy hastily spoke. â€Å"The monster lives in our land. In the Ald-Thorn Land, that is.† â€Å"How do you know that?† I asked. â€Å"Because only girls from the Thorn Land have disappeared,† the woman said. â€Å"Westoria borders the Rowan Land, and two of their villages are very close. You read "Thorn Queen Chapter Eight" in category "Essay examples" Skye and Ley. But they’ve had no one go missing.† â€Å"You guys seem to know a lot about this for allegedly not being involved.† â€Å"We don’t need to be involved. We raid both sides of the border-word gets around.† She spoke of her raiding as a matter of pride, and I tried not to roll my eyes. â€Å"Okay. Let’s put the girls on hold. Where did the fire demons come from?† No answer. I sighed again. â€Å"Volusian.† Volusian swiftly moved forward again and wrapped his hand around the guy’s throat. Most spirits had little substance, but with his power, Volusian was as solid as any of us, his touch cold and deadly. The man screamed and crumpled to the ground. â€Å"Stop! Stop!† yelled the woman. â€Å"I’ll tell you.† I halted Volusian and looked at her expectantly. The man remained on the floor, rubbing his throat and moaning. The skin on his neck bore bright red marks. The woman looked angrier than ever. â€Å"It’s our leader who summons them. Cowan.† â€Å"You expect me to believe some vagrant has that kind of power?† I asked. â€Å"Why isn’t he off working for a noble?† â€Å"He was a noble, one of Aeson’s advisors. He preferred to live a rough life, rather than work for someone like you.† â€Å"Aeson did have a noble named Cowan,† Rurik said. â€Å"Her story isn’t implausible.† I suddenly felt weary. None of these were the answers I wanted. No leads on the girls, and now I had a rogue noble who could summon demons. â€Å"Okay,† I said. â€Å"That’s all I’ve got for now.† â€Å"What are you going to do with us?† the woman demanded. â€Å"Another excellent question,† I murmured. â€Å"Aeson would have killed them,† said Rurik. â€Å"And you know I’m not Aeson.† Would setting them free accomplish anything? Much of what they’d done had been from hunger and desperation, not that that justified robbing and potentially killing and kidnapping. If I freed them out of guilt, I doubted they’d learn their lessons and go on to become upright citizens. I certainly wasn’t going to kill them, though. I didn’t even want to hold them in this cell much longer. The guard who’d accompanied Rurik cleared his throat. â€Å"Your majesty, you could sentence them to a work detail.† â€Å"A work detail?† â€Å"There are others like them, other criminals, who serve a term doing labor as punishment for their deeds.† â€Å"Like digging your aque†¦whatever,† said Rurik. That didn’t sound so bad. And hey, it might actually be useful. I gave the order and was assured the two prisoners would be transported to their work site. The whole thing felt a little strange. Here I was judge, jury, and-if I chose-executioner. No one argued with my decision. No one questioned the time I set-six months. Although, Rurik’s arched eyebrow made me think he would have sentenced them to life. â€Å"Okay,† I said when we’d emerged out of the lower levels of the castle and I’d sent away Volusian. â€Å"Now I’m going home.† Shaya suddenly rounded the corner. â€Å"There you are,† she said anxiously. â€Å"I’ve been looking for you.† â€Å"I’m leaving.† Her face turned confused. â€Å"But Prince Leith is here to see you.† â€Å"Who†¦oh.† The image came back to me. The moderately cute guy from the party. The Rowan Queen’s son, who hadn’t been all that annoying. â€Å"Why is he here?† â€Å"After your last visit, I dispatched those with any affinity for metal out to search for copper. They found a lot of it-thought it’s been difficult to extract-and I sent out word that we’d be in a position to set up trade for it soon. Leith is here to negotiate on behalf of his mother.† â€Å"Man,† I said. â€Å"You guys move fast.† Her looked turned wry. â€Å"Well, yes, but there’s also the fact that you invited him to visit sometime. He’s taking you up on the offer. In fact, I suspect seeing you is more important than the trade negotiations.† â€Å"Good thing. Because I’m not so good in the way of negotiations.† I never wore a watch and had left my cell phone back in Tucson. I had no idea what time it was, only that I was spending more and more time in the Otherworld. Seeing Leith was only going to delay me further. â€Å"I’ll see him. But it’s going to be fast.† Shaya looked relieved. I think she’d worried I would bolt, which was a very good fear to have. As we walked to the chamber Leith was waiting in, she gave me a curious look. â€Å"Perhaps you’d†¦like to change and clean up first?† I looked at my clothes. They were pretty badly wrinkled, and I didn’t doubt that I had grass in my hair from last night. â€Å"No,† I said. â€Å"The less appealing he finds me, the better.† Unfortunately, that proved impossible. When we entered the room, Leith leapt up, face aglow with delight. â€Å"Your majesty! It’s so wonderful to see you again.† He swept me a half-bow and kissed my hand. â€Å"You look amazing.† He was apparently into the grunge look. â€Å"I hope you don’t mind me arriving like this. When my mother heard the news of your find, she wanted to make sure we could get in on it as soon as possible.† â€Å"Sure,† I said, taking my hand back. â€Å"No problem.† The room was a comfortable parlor that still bore the signs of Aeson’s tastes in decorating. Tapestries, lots of velvet, and dark colors. Everyone waited for me to sit on one of the plush sofas and then followed suit. I made a point of kind of sprawling on mine. It wouldn’t have been out of the range of gentry etiquette for Leith to come snuggle up beside me. As it was, he was still beaming at me and seemed a bit put out when Shaya jumped right in. â€Å"So, your highness. We’d like to discuss trading our copper for your wheat.† As they began to talk, I had a sudden flashback to that god-awful board game my mother used to make me play, Pit. I let my mind wander as the two of them hashed out the finer details of matters I didn’t entirely understand. My thoughts drifted to some upcoming jobs I had, the mystery of the demons and the missing girls, and of course, Kiyo. Always Kiyo. Leith and Shaya wrapped up their negotiations fairly quickly. From the happy look on her face, I took it our team had come out ahead. With a polite bow in my direction, Shaya rose, holding some papers to her chest. â€Å"If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to have these written up and formalized so that the prince can sign them before he leaves.† I took this as my cue to entertain him, but nothing readily came to mind. I couldn’t really talk to him about reality TV or American politics. Finally, lamely, I said, â€Å"Thanks for your help. I mean, with the trade and everything.† He grinned. â€Å"We’re getting as much out of it as you. Maybe more.† â€Å"Shaya didn’t seem to think so,† I said, speaking without thinking. This made him laugh. â€Å"She’s a good negotiator. You’re lucky to have her.† He leaned forward. â€Å"Especially since I’m guessing this really isn’t your†¦well, let’s just say it’s not one of your normal pastimes.† The frankness caught me by surprise. I’d expected him to remain starstruck and silly, like most of the guys around here who wanted to hit on me. Leith’s current expression wasn’t lecherous or adoring now, just knowing and sympathetic. â€Å"No, it’s really not. This is a kind of a big life change.† â€Å"And yet, you knew you’d be taking this on when you defeated Aeson.† I hesitated. Both Shaya and Rurik had hinted to me on a number of occasions that I really shouldn’t elaborate on the totally unexpected-and unwanted-nature of my queen-ship. Even if I hadn’t fought Aeson with the specific intent of supplanting him, the point remained now that I was stuck with this. Coming across as weak and whiny to those outside my inner circle could create more problems. â€Å"Well, yeah,† I said brightly. â€Å"We just didn’t anticipate this many problems when the land changed.† â€Å"But this is how your world is?† â€Å"The part I live in. But we’ve had a long time to get used to it and figure out ways to survive and get water in. I gave Shaya books on how to construct some of that stuff, so hopefully she’ll find someone to do it.† His brow furrowed. â€Å"Is there any way I could take a look? I might able to help.† For a moment, I wondered if this was his new ploy to schmooze me-until I recalled what Shaya had said about him having a brilliant mind for technology, inasmuch as the gentry could. If he could parse diagrams and whatnot, it might be worth getting closer to him. â€Å"Sure,† I said. â€Å"We could certainly use it.† He smiled again, and as it lit up his face, even I could acknowledge he was pretty good-looking. Not like Kiyo, of course. Or even†¦well, like Dorian. But pretty cute. â€Å"I’ll set to it as soon as I can. If there’s anything else I can do to make this easier for you, I’ll do it.† There was an enraptured look on his face. Yeah, he definitely had a crush, but he didn’t irritate me in the way so many other more obnoxious suitors did. An odd thought occurred to me. â€Å"Leith†¦here’s something you might be able to help with. Have you ever heard of girls disappearing from the Rowan Land? In the areas that border my land?† The look on his face showed that this was the last question he’d expected from me. â€Å"I†¦beg your pardon?† â€Å"Girls have been disappearing from my land, right near your borders.† What were those names? â€Å"Skye and Ley. But the people I talked to say nothing’s happening to your girls. Do you know anything about this?† He shook his head, utterly confused. â€Å"No†¦I’m afraid I don’t know very much about the lives of those people.† Leith’s words weren’t contemptuous by any means, but there was an implication that villagers and peasants just weren’t people he associated with. It reminded me of Rurik’s comments about how Aeson would have never troubled himself to investigate bandits or missing girls unless they directly affected him. Leith wasn’t as much of an asshole as Aeson, but he and his mother were likely just as out of touch as any other noble. I think a fair amount of disappointment must have shown on my face because he suddenly grew eager to make me feel better. â€Å"But I swear, I’ll look into this when I return. I’ll ask Mother, and we’ll send messengers out to report back. I’ll find out everything I can for you.† I smiled at his enthusiasm. â€Å"Thanks, Leith. It’s really great of you to help.† â€Å"Helping a pretty queen is no trouble at all. By the way, have you ever thought about getting a crown?† We talked a little longer, and I found he actually was a really nice guy, given to moments of humor and intelligence. It wasn’t enough for me to jump into bed with him, but I appreciated finding someone else to connect with in the Otherworld. Shaya returned at last with the paperwork-hand-printed on scrolls, of course-and while Leith signed, we got a hold of the engineering books for him. His eyes widened with delight, and I swear, he probably could have sat down and started reading then and there on the floor. Instead, he took the hint that I had other things to do, and after many more compliments and hand kisses, he took his leave. â€Å"You’ve given him another open invitation,† Shaya pointed out. â€Å"Yeah, I know. But he’s harmless. I like him.† â€Å"None of them are harmless, your majesty.† I couldn’t entirely tell if she was joking or not. â€Å"Well, it’ll be worth the hassle if he can solve our water problem and help with the girls.† â€Å"The girls?† I gave her a quick recap of my interrogation with the prisoners. Her face turned thoughtful as she processed my words. â€Å"Skye and Ley†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Do you know those towns?† She nodded. â€Å"They and Westoria are configured in a way that places them equidistant from a gateway. A crossroads.† â€Å"What, to my world?† She nodded again. â€Å"Huh. I wonder if that’s a coincidence. I wonder†¦I wonder if it’s possible that†¦Ã¢â‚¬  One of my crazier ideas came to me. â€Å"Do you think those girls could be leaving and going to my world?† â€Å"I don’t know. Shining ones do often cross over. It’s not unheard of.† â€Å"Yeah, I know. To cause trouble. Or to steal women.† I had to fight a scowl on that one. My own mother had been one such woman, abducted and forced to be my father’s mistress. â€Å"You think these girls are going to go kidnap guys so they can have kids?† The easy ability to conceive was why so many humans got kidnapped. Usually, it was gentry men taking human women. Shaya’s smile turned wry. â€Å"I somehow doubt it would come to that. Women have been known to cross over, spend time in your world, and return pregnant. They don’t need to bring the men back.† Fair point. Well, this was certainly a weird development. I’d have to wait and see what Leith reported back, but I supposed if these girls weren’t actually being abducted†¦well, there was little for me to do. Admittedly, I’d always fought adamantly against gentry sneaking to the human world, but I wasn’t sure where the right and wrong of this situation lay. â€Å"I guess that’d be easier to deal with than a monster taking them. Still leaves that stupid demon problem.† I sighed. â€Å"Well, one issue at a time, I guess.† â€Å"Are you leaving now?† â€Å"Yes. Finally. Thanks for handling this today.† â€Å"Of course,† she said. She actually sounded like she meant it. Her pleased expression turned momentarily hesitant. â€Å"Although†¦there’s something you should know. Someone else responded right away to the trade offer.† â€Å"That’s good news.† â€Å"It’s Dorian.† â€Å"Oh.† Of course Dorian would respond. How could he stay away from an opportunity to put me at his mercy? â€Å"You can deal with it, though, right?† â€Å"Well, that’s just it. He’s specifically requested that you talk to him. At his home.† â€Å"What?† I stared. â€Å"He†¦he can’t do that.† That wry smile of hers returned. â€Å"He’s a king. He can do anything he wishes.† â€Å"Yeah, but Leith came here! Dorian just wants me to go to him so that he can taunt me.† And no doubt flaunt Ysabel in front of me. â€Å"Leith’s kingdom needs copper more than Dorian’s. I suspect Dorian is doing this as a personal favor to you.† â€Å"That’s not exactly how I’d put it.† She shook her head, the amusement now warring with exasperation. â€Å"I know there’s tension between you, but I suspect if you could be nice to King Dorian, he might make us a very generous deal. One that could help us immensely.† A generous deal. The Oak Land was flourishing. I didn’t doubt they had all sorts of food and other items we could use. I thought about those poor people in Westoria and even about my prisoners who’d spoken of having too many mouths to feed. I sighed. â€Å"Fine. I’ll talk to him. And I’ll even be nice.† I started to turn away, needing more than ever to get back to my own home. Then I glanced back behind me. â€Å"But Shaya? Just to be safe, you might want to keep looking for more trade partners.† How to cite Thorn Queen Chapter Eight, Essay examples

Monday, April 27, 2020

Staying Healthy and Eating Right Essay Example For Students

Staying Healthy and Eating Right Essay Staying Healthy and Eating Right Essay is a lifestyle that many people should consider. A juicy hamburger from McDonalds dripping with special sauce topped with cheese is not exactly considered a healthy meal. Our society today is busy and on the go at all times. It is so much easier to stop and get fast food and then continue on. However, we should stop and think; is it really worth it to not eat right and exercise? Studies have shown, people that eat right and exercise live longer. Eating fattening foods clogs your heart with cholesterol and fat. People that do not exercise and continue to eat unhealthy foods will slow their metabolism. This is why over 70% of our society are overweight today. My grandfather has had problems with his heart in the past mostly because he was very overweight and eating the wrong foods. The doctor advised him to exercise and eat right. Now, after two years of following this advice, his heart is stronger than ever. We will write a custom essay on Staying Healthy and Eating Right specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now The doctor informed him that at least ten years has been added to his life. Exercising and eating right really does help you to live longer. Eating healthy foods and exercising also helps to build persons self-esteem. Many people who are overweight do not feel good about themselves. They want to be thinner but instead of doing it the right way, they try crash diets that seem to always fail or do nothing at all about their condition. If we would exercise at least 45 minutes per day, 3 to 4 times per week, it is guaranteed that we lose weight and get in shape. When a person is at the size and stature that they would like to be then their self-esteem rises. If one has a good attitude and think they look great then more than likely other people will also. When one exercises and eats good foods then they also physically feel great. The fact that one has just spent an hour on the treadmill and a salad was for dinner makes a person feel as if they are really accomplishing something. If people would realize what a great feeling a person gets from working out and eating healthy foods then everyone would be doing it. It is a lifestyle that people should adopt and live by. It should also make one feel good that they are doing something to better themselves. All of us have areas that we can improve on. By improving our physical imperfections it makes us feel great. Some people were raised to eat everything on their plate whether it was healthy or not. If your mom made the food, then it was eaten. What our generation should do is learn from our parents mistakes. We should start cooking our children healthier foods so that they will grow up knowing and living healthier lifestyles. Others say that there is just not enough time to exercise or that fat free foods dont taste as good as fattening foods. However, we should make the time to exercise so that we can improve our mental and physical state. Also, there are now even fat free potato chips on the market that taste exactly the same as regular potato chips. Some people say that problems make them eat more, but we should practice more self-control during times that we are having problems. There are also the people that say they are not able to exercise because of physical problems, however, they are still able to eat healthy foods. In fact, people that do suffer from physical ailments and are not able to exercise should be that much more interested in learning to eat healthy. These excuses for choosing to live unhealthy in my opinion are just that; excuses! It is now time to make our choice. A healthy lifestyle and learning to exercise will benefit each one of us. Will we continue to live as unhealthy blobs, or will we take a little time out of our busy schedules so that we can live longer, raise our self-esteem, and feel great? Make a choice! .u4075c3bec2b049fa49b9de439e02102e , .u4075c3bec2b049fa49b9de439e02102e .postImageUrl , .u4075c3bec2b049fa49b9de439e02102e .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u4075c3bec2b049fa49b9de439e02102e , .u4075c3bec2b049fa49b9de439e02102e:hover , .u4075c3bec2b049fa49b9de439e02102e:visited , .u4075c3bec2b049fa49b9de439e02102e:active { border:0!important; } .u4075c3bec2b049fa49b9de439e02102e .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u4075c3bec2b049fa49b9de439e02102e { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u4075c3bec2b049fa49b9de439e02102e:active , .u4075c3bec2b049fa49b9de439e02102e:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u4075c3bec2b049fa49b9de439e02102e .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u4075c3bec2b049fa49b9de439e02102e .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u4075c3bec2b049fa49b9de439e02102e .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u4075c3bec2b049fa49b9de439e02102e .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u4075c3bec2b049fa49b9de439e02102e:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u4075c3bec2b049fa49b9de439e02102e .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u4075c3bec2b049fa49b9de439e02102e .u4075c3bec2b049fa49b9de439e02102e-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u4075c3bec2b049fa49b9de439e02102e:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Biology - Genetics The Cystic Fibrosis Gene Introd EssayBibliography: .

Thursday, March 19, 2020

The Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence Free Online Research Papers It was the 4th of July in 1776 when delegates from all thirteen colonies assembled at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Not knowing the full significance of what was about to take place that day, the delegates would do something that would forever change the course of the American people. Throughout history, only a few documents have changed the way we as a nation view politics and carry out our everyday lives. The document mentioned above was the Declaration of Independence. It changed the course of history because it granted America its freedom from Great Britain. Originally, there was a committee created to compose the document which consisted of John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, Robert R. Livingston, and Thomas Jefferson. After conversing with one another, the committee decided that Thomas Jefferson would be the one to write it with the final approval coming from the other four. After writing it and receiving approval from the committee, Jefferson presented it to the House. What happened here was not what the committee originally expected. Not all of the delegates attending the convention approved the document. However, through compromising for the greater good of the â€Å"New Nation† and editing to accommodate everyone’s preferences, th e document was finally approved by all thirteen colonies. In today’s society, The Declaration of Independence is still a living document. Many ingredients are still an enormous part of our lives and the way our government handles diverse matters. One of the clauses, however, is being completely taken out of context and should be addressed immediately. The United States’ Foreign Policy is an ongoing problem and will continue until we as nation get back to our roots and foundation before we eventually lose track of our own problems and affairs, inevitably leading to our destruction. Having said this, it is helpful to know the origins of this belief. In the following paragraphs, a brief history of The Declaration of Independence will be discussed so the origins of this idea are clear. Although Thomas Jefferson gets credit for writing the Declaration of Independence, one must first understand where most of the ideas came from. According to Dr. Vaughn Huckfeldt during a class lecture, an English philosopher by the name of John Locke developed his own political views and published them in the late 1600’s in his Two Treatises of Government. At the beginning of the Declaration, it is mentioned that all men are entitled with â€Å"certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.† In Locke’s 2nd Treatise of Government, he begins by using his theory of the state of nature in order to define the nature of power. Locke describes the state of nature as a place of equality in which no one person has any power over another and all people are free to do as they please. He argues that although the state of nature is a place of perfect freedom, it is still governed by natural law. When discussing law, the Declaration sets a foundation which the United States government is based on. The Declaration states to secure the rights of the people, governments have to be instituted among the people; however, when a government rules without consent, it is considered to be unjust. Even when being just, no one has the right to rule the other without the other’s consent (West 75). When given consent, political leaders are usually appointed through elections to ensure that the public has the right to self-rule so that they can make their own decisions or appoint representatives that reflect their views on politics. The reason for drafting the Declaration was because of the tyrannical rule of the British over the American colonies. Sheldon mentions in his work, â€Å"The Political Theory of The Declaration of Independence,† that a list of â€Å"injuries and usurpations† had been brought against the American colonies. The Declaration contains a list of these injustices. Sheldon goes on to explain some of the various hardships placed on them such as the British Parliament destroying the democratic institutions of the colonies. The Founding Fathers did not want this to become a problem in the newly created United States. Because of this fear, Thomas Jefferson placed a clause in the Declaration saying, â€Å"that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government.† Trying to prevent ever having to deal with tyranny, the Founding Fathers constructed a way to check the governm ent internally which is know as the separation of powers. They devised three separate branches which were the Legislative, Executive, and the Judicial branches. These branches would have separate duties, different sizes and tasks, and sometimes different terms of office so that each of them could serve as a system of checks and balances for the government. Each branch would be given enough constitutional power so that it could resist any unnecessary impingement on one another (West 81-82). In today’s society, many countries experience problems dealing with tyrannical rulers. As a nation, we Americans deem it necessary to not only deal with our problems but also get involved with other countries’ problems as well. As we all know, we have been in Iraq for a number of years dealing with there governmental problems. According to Margaret Griffis at Antiwar.com, over 3,000 American men have lost their lives since the war began in March of 2003 due to our decision to enter the Iraqi nation and try and sort their problems out. This is not right. Many innocent lives have been taken having nothing to do with the American idea of â€Å"life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.† When talked about in the Declaration on unjust governments needed to be overthrown, it was eluding to our problems if any presented themselves. In his last attempt to communicate with the American people, George Washington gave his Farewell Address stating that the United States sh ould be open to commerce with all nations, but they should avoid entangling themselves with foreign wars which were not directly threatening the nation. As a nation, we should be setting an example for other nations just as Governor John Winthrop said in his speech referring to America as a â€Å"City on a hill.† This theme shows the American idea that the nation must be set apart as an example for others to follow. Americans generally see the nation in this context. So if others see America as a â€Å"City on a hill,† we should not have the arrogance to try and think just because we are the current superpower in the world, we can act as a peacemaker for everyone’s problems. To many other nations, America is often referred to as somewhat of a bully. No other nation in history has even come close to equaling the power of the United States of America. This simple fact alone frightens people. They believe that no nation should have that much power at their disposal. It is also scares people around the world to think that America can act alone militarily at any given time. These powers which the American possesses are giving us an appearance of arrogance to other nations. We have become so self-righteous in our pursuits that we refuse to attempt to see an issue from another countries’ vantage point if it differs from our own. Even the president alienates people on national television with his claim that, â€Å"You are either with us or against us.† This takes a step back as far as diplomacy goes. Perhaps instead of writing the differing opinions of other countries off as ignorant or evil, we should try to understand the rationale behind other countries’ positions when they differ from ours. The document that the Founding Fathers presented us with that day in 1776 will forever be engraved in history. The genius in there writings somewhat foreshadowed the future of the American Government and possesses themes which are still present in today’s society. Over time, American political leaders and American people have lost the underlying meaning of some of these themes. It was not intended by the Founding Fathers to entangle ourselves in many foreign affairs in fear of creating unwanted problems for the nation in which they made so many sacrifices for. America should remember where it came from and who gave there lives to have the freedoms such as â€Å"life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness† in which they possess today and be the example that it should be for all other nations. I believe that America can still be this citadel, but it must make changes in order to better represent the country among the international community. Griffis, Margaret, Ed. â€Å"Casualties in Iraq.† 25 March 2007. 25 March 2007. < antiwar.com/casualties/> Huckfeldt, Vaughn. Class lecture. Philosophy 243. 18 January 2007. Jefferson, Thomas. â€Å"The Declaration of Independence.† The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Ed. Baym, Nina. 6th Edition. New York: W.W. Norton Company, Inc, 2003. 727-732. Sheldon, Gerard Ward. â€Å"The Political Theory of the Declaration of Independence.† The Declaration of Independence Origins and Impacts. Ed. Gerber, Scott Douglas. Washington D.C: CQ Press, 2002. 16-27 United States. Dept. of State. Farewell Address by George Washington (1796). 19 March 2007. West, Thomas G. â€Å"The Declaration of Independence, the US Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.† The Declaration of Independence Origins and Impacts. Ed. Gerber, Scott Douglas. Washington D.C: CQ Press, 2002. 72-95 Research Papers on The Declaration of IndependenceAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropeQuebec and Canada19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraCanaanite Influence on the Early Israelite ReligionThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationBringing Democracy to AfricaEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenPETSTEL analysis of IndiaStandardized TestingCapital Punishment

Tuesday, March 3, 2020

Evolution Labs - Coacervates Lab

Evolution Labs - Coacervates Lab Coacervates are a life-like creation that prove that life may have formed from simple organic substances under the right conditions that eventually led to the formation of prokaryotes. Sometimes called protocells, these coacervates mimic life by creating vacuoles and movement. All it takes to create these coacervates is protein, carbohydrates, and an adjusted pH. This is easily done in the lab and then the coacervates can be studied under a microscope to observe their life-like properties. Materials: goggleslab coats or protective covering for clothescompound light microscopemicroscope slidescoverslipstest tube racksmall culture tubes (one tube per student)rubber stopper or cap that fits the culture tubeone medicine dropper per tube0.1M HCl solutionpH papercoacervate mix Making the coacervate mix: Mix 5 parts of 1% gelatin solution with 3 parts 1% gum acacia solution on the day of the lab (the 1% solutions can be made up ahead of time). Gelatin can be purchased at either the grocery store or a science supply company. Gum acacia is very affordable and can be bought from some science supply companies. Procedure: Put on the goggles and lab coats for safety. There is acid used in this lab, so extra precautions should be taken when working with the chemicals.Use good lab practices when setting up the microscope. Make sure the microscope slide and coverslip are clean and ready for use.Obtain a clean culture tube and a test tube rack to hold it. Fill up the culture tube about half way with the coacervate mix which is a combination of 5 parts gelatin (a protein) to 3 parts gum acacia (a carbohydrate).Use a dropper to put a drop of the mix onto a piece of pH paper and record the initial pH.Add a drop of acid to the tube and then cover the end of the tube with a rubber stopper (or culture tube cap) and invert the entire tube once to mix. If this is done properly, it will turn somewhat cloudy. If the cloudiness disappears, add another drop of acid and invert the tube once again to mix. Continue adding drops of acid until the cloudiness stays. Most likely, this will not take more than 3 drops. If it t akes more than that, check to be sure you have the right concentration of acid. When it stays cloudy, check the pH by putting a drop on pH paper and record the pH. Place a drop of the cloudy coacervate mix on a slide. Cover the mix with a coverslip, and search under low power for your sample. It should look like clear, round bubbles with smaller bubbles inside. If you are having trouble finding your coacervates, try adjusting the light of the microscope.Switch the microscope to high power. Draw a typical coacervate.Add three more drops of acid, one at a time, inverting the tube to mix after each single drop. Take a drop of the new mix and test its pH by putting it on the pH paper.After washing your original coacervates off of your microscope slide (and the coverslip, too), put a drop of the new mix on the slide and cover with the coverslip.Find a new coacervate on low power of your microscope, then switch to high power and draw it on your paper.Be careful with clean up of this lab. Follow all safety procedures for working with acid when cleaning. Critical Thinking Questions: Compare and contrast the materials you used in this lab to create coacervates to the supposed materials available on the ancient Earth.At what pH did the coacervate droplets form? What does this tell you about the acidity of the ancient oceans (if it is assumed this is how life formed)?What happened to the coacervates after you added the extra drops of acid? Hypothesize how you could get the original coacervates to come back into your solution.Is there a way coacervates may be more visible when looking through a microscope? Create a controlled experiment to test your hypothesis. Lab adapted from original procedure by the University of Indiana

Saturday, February 15, 2020

What are the most important parts of a financial statement for an Essay

What are the most important parts of a financial statement for an investor to look at when deciding on a long-term financial investment - Essay Example If an investor buys shares of a company whose profits have been deteriorating over the years then it is likely that the impact of the falling profits will also be reflected in the price of its shares. This will erode the value of the company’s shares and the investment will result in losses. For this reason a careful analysis of the financial statements is a must before taking a long position in the shares of the company. The investors must make investments from long term point of view as this gives them the power to exercise control over their investments. An intelligent investor must not focus on the short term movements in the market rather one should concentrate on intelligent selection (Bogle & Swensen, 2009, pp.40). Ideally the return on a long term investment should be 7% (Campbell et al., 2001). Stocks generally offer best possible returns over the long term (Bodnar, 2006, pp.121). For the period 1926 to 1998 the common stocks of large companies offered an annual return of 11.2 percent. When compared with other instruments it shows that the stocks offered a risk premium of 7.2 percent annually. Even though the returns earned on large cap and small cap stocks is higher as compared to other assets classes their returns are more volatile. The return on long term bonds issued by US government is 5.3 percent per year i.e. a real return of 2.2 percent. Though the returns on such bonds are less as compared to the stocks but their returns are comparatively less volatile when compared to volatility in stock returns (Reilly & Brown, 2002, pp.92). The financial statements comprise of- Income Statement, Cash flow Statement and Balance Sheet. Income Statement is an estimation of the profits incurred or losses suffered by the business over a specified period of time. Cash Flow Statement is a summary of the net cash position of the business. Balance Sheet is a summarized statement of the assets owned by the business and the liabilities owed by it. Using these

Sunday, February 2, 2020

Modular Construction Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 7500 words

Modular Construction - Dissertation Example As mentioned before, the increase in the demand for an economical and quick delivery for buildings both in the domestic and commercial scenarios, the innovation in the construction industry should be investigated. The modular construction method being an increasingly deployed method of construction in the UK, and the fact that it is an innovative method of construction to the existing methods makes it a natural choice of analysis in this research. Furthermore, the increasing demand for efficiency in management to reduce costs and loss of resources in the construction industry justifies the choice of research since the modular construction methods involve extensive use of project management methodologies, which will be discussed in the research chapters of this report. The scope of this research is restricted to the commercial and domestic building construction as the construction industry in the UK includes many segments like the road construction and other public utilities building construction. Although it is argued widely that the modular construction method can be deployed in these areas of construction as well, the limitations with the resources and time involved in this research that is academic in nature is the limiting factor to the scope of this report. 1.4: Chapter Overview: Chapter 1: Introduction This is the current chapter that presents the reader with the aim and objectives of the report along with a brief overview on the research envisaged in this report. Chapter 2: Literature Review In this chapter an overview on the construction industry is presented to the reader with the focus on the

Saturday, January 25, 2020

Analysis of UBS Stock Price Essay -- UBS Financial Case Study

BS Analysis UBS Financials The table below presents a few of the most important financial key statistics of UBS as of 11 Mar 2014 (currency in USD). Income Statement Revenue (TTM) 33.43B Revenue (Quarterly YOY Growth) 1.95% EPS Diluted (TTM) 0.8985 Net Income (TTM) 3.651B Profitability Profit Margin (Quarterly) 14.50% Dividend Dividend Yield 1.36% Dividend 0.28 Current Valuation Market Cap 80.45B Enterprise Value 64.84B Price to Book Value 1.494 P/E (TTM) 23.6 EPS (TTM) 0.89 Other Beta 1.79 Figure 1 - UBS Financial Key Statistics UBS Strategy & Achievements Given the changing operating and regulatory environment and the issues encountered as described in section 2 above, UBS has finalized a new strategy for the group at the end of 2011 in order to properly address such challenges – according to the Board Members & CEO letter to shareholders included within the 2012 Annual Report. The board members and CEO considered this strategy should focus on the firm’s guiding principles regarding client focus, capital strength, enhanced risk controls and concentration on improving operational efficiency. The business of UBS will continue to focus on wealth management businesses and leading universal bank in Switzerland, complemented by Global Asset Management and the Investment Bank. Acting upon this strategy, several group-wide cost reduction and efficiency measures were implemented while operational risk controls were also highly strengthened. One of the main focus points of the bank was the implementation of the new Basel III requirements and has reached the following levels of performance as of end of 2012: Item UBS (end of 2012) Basel III Requirement Equity tier 1 ratio (fully applied) 9... .... All in all, I believe investing in UBS shares for long-term is a good strategy for obtaining higher future returns. Works Cited http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UBS , 11 March 2014 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UBS , 11 March 2014 Financial Stability Board, Peer Review of Switzerland, Review Report, 2012, https://www.financialstabilityboard.org/publications/r_250112.htm Financial Stability Board, Peer Review of Switzerland, Review Report, 2012, https://www.financialstabilityboard.org/publications/r_250112.htm Figure taken from 2012 UBS Annual Report http://ycharts.com/companies/UNLYF , 11 March 2014 https://www.google.com/finance?q=nyse:UBS, 13 March 2014 2012 UBS Annual Report Fourth Quarter 2013 UBS Report http://www.ubs.com/1/e/unauthorizedtrading.html, 11 March 2014 Zacks Investment Research, www.zacks.com, 15 Jan 2014

Friday, January 17, 2020

Diversity Among Society Essay

The United States is made up of millions of people that come from different backgrounds, religions and cultures. These differences are what make America the type of place it is today, because without these differences we would be just like every other country in the world. One of the biggest resources that we would have to help find information on Diversity would be the internet and this is mainly because we can find out almost anything that we would need on a certain race or culture. An article from US Life-U. S Department of State had a quote from former U. S.  Secretary of State Colin Powell that states, â€Å"America is a nation of nations, made up of people from every land, of every race and practicing every faith. Our diversity is not a source of weakness; it is a source of strength, it is a source of our success. † That quote alone can explain the true meaning behind the diversity in America and why we are the way we are. Through all the information that I acquired during this course, I have come to a better understanding of my racial and ethnical background. I have learned that according to the American Community Survey conducted by the U.  S. Census Bureau there are roughly over 36 million Americans that claimed there American heritage and that great political figures such as John F. Kennedy had an Irish background. I have also learned that it was never easy for Irish settlers years ago, because in the late 1800’s through the early 1900’s Irish immigrants were considered poor trash and were treated as such. It took many years for the Irish to establish a good name in America and over time people would stop hiding their Irish heritage and proudly display out in the open the love of their background. It is very hard to tell what the U. S. will look like in the year 2050, because we are constantly changing and we will continue to do this throughout our time. One thing that I can say is that we will have more humans then we know what to do with, because modern medicine is figuring out new ways to help people live longer and stay healthier. As for the demographics in the U. S. go, I would have to say that all raciest will be about equal in population and the white race will no longer be the dominant race. There will be more diversity in olitics and in the media, because as of right now we have a black president and that is just the beginning of what the future will be like. It’s hard to say if there will ever be any big race wars in America, because in today’s modern world everything seems ok, but no one is ever really sure what lies beneath the surface of individual groups. There could be a great race war that might happen in the future, or everybody will finally start to accept each other and we could live a beautiful existence. The challenge that the United States faces with diversity is that everyone is diverse and the want to be proud and show there true diversity. The main problem with that is that some other cultures don’t agree with them and they might want them to change their ways, or leave. This has always been a big challenge for the United States, because as time goes on we should be comfortable with diversity and accepting it along with ours, but there always will be certain people out there that will never change and they will make sure that they are heard within any means necessary. On the other side there are many great benefits that Untied States could benefit from with being such a diverse place. The fact that there are so many different views and opinions in America of the world around them, they could never truly run out of ideas. So many cultures offer such good things to America and they will continue to keeping adding on to that list. In today’s modern society certain individuals still feel the need for racial security and what that means is that someone might still feel more comfortable around their own kind. For example; a white family starts to pack up out of their home and move away from a changing neighborhood. The family finds a place that is more suitable towards their own security which is an all white suburb. The enroll their kids in an all white school and feel that nothing bad will happen to them. Little do they know is that their son’s new friend from school is a thief and deals drugs throughout the school. As time moves on the family starts to see a change in their child’s behavior, as if he was on some sort of drug, they ignore it, because they are amongst white people are they think that things like that couldn’t happen. Fast forward a little more and the child is grown up and in jail for armed robbery. The parents are clueless and confuse, because they never thought that it would happen in an all white neighborhood. Now the point to that story is that in order to foster a climate for acceptance we need to understand that not every other race is bad or will corrupt their race; in fact if each race got together and helped one another out with this kind of problem they could share their experiences and find a proper solution for the problem. The issue with racial profiling in the media is that the reader does not understand what is going on and assumes that a certain situation is a result of that entire race. A perfect example would be the 9/11 tragedy, because after that the media and the people reading the media pretty much made it seem that the situation was a result of all Muslims, when in fact it was only a handful of people that had hateful opinions towards America. The media may not be all bad and include nothing but racial profiling; in fact the media can also showcase the coming together of different races. The media recognized that we would have a black president and that many different races had voted for him, because they felt that he could do the job right regardless of color or background. If everyone in America could understand the power that we have and this is not because we have missiles or a great army, instead it is because we have so many different cultures that bring many different things to our Nation. We would have the power of America’s spirit on our side and it would be hard to break the spirit and will power of that many different people. I am also one that sadly shown my negativity towards another race at one time and it might of not been violent, because it was only in my head, but it goes to show that almost everyone in some way and another will or have experienced that and the best way to overcome that barrio is to understand, research and understand another cultures meaning to behind what they do and then an alliance with each other could happen and we could one day become brothers and sisters of the world again.