Food safety Essay

However, according to Unit 04 – Communication of Health & Consumers Directorate-General of the European Commission (SANCO): â€Å"The Codex, while being recommendations for voluntary application by members, Codex standards serve in many cases as a basis for national legislation. The reference made to Codex food safety standards in the World Trade Organizations’ Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures (SPS Agreement) means that Codex has far reaching implications for resolving trade disputes. WTO members that wish to apply stricter food safety measures than those set by Codex may be required to justify these measures scientifically. † So, an agreement made in 2003, signed by all member states, inclusive all EU, in the codex Stan Codex 240 – 2003 for coconut milk, sulphite containing additives like E223 and E 224 are allowed till 30 mg/kg, does NOT mean, they are allowed into the EU, see RASFF entries from Denmark: 2012. 0834; 2011. 1848; en 2011. 168, â€Å"sulphite unauthorised in coconut milk from Thailand â€Å". Same for polysorbate E 435: see 2012. 0838 from Denmark, unauthorised polysorbates in coconut milk and, 2007. AIC from France. Only for the latter the EU amended its regulations with (EU) No 583/2012 per 2 July 2012 to allow this additive, already used for decades and absolutely necessary. Australia[edit]Food Standards Australia New Zealand is working toward ensuring that all food businesses implement food safety systems to ensure food is safe to consume in a bid to halt the increasing incidence of food poisoning, this includes basic food safety training for at least one person in each business. Smart business operators know that basic food safety training improves the bottom line, staff take more pride in their work; there is less waste; and customers can have more confidence in the food they consume. Food Safety training in units of competence from a relevant training package, must be delivered by a Registered Training Organization (RTO) to enable staff to be issued with a nationally recognised unit of competency code on their certificate. Generally this training can be completed in less than one day. Training options are available to suit the needs of everyone. Training may be carried out in-house for a group, in a public class, via correspondence or online. Basic food safety training includes: Understanding the hazards associated with the main types of food and the conditions to prevent the growth of bacteria which can cause food poisoning and to prevent illness The problems associated with product packaging such as leaks in vacuum packs, damage to packaging or pest infestation, as well as problems and diseases spread by pests. Safe food handling. This includes safe procedures for each process such as receiving, re-packing, food storage, preparation and cooking, cooling and re-heating, displaying products, handling products when serving customers, packaging, cleaning and sanitizing, pest control, transport and delivery. Also the causes of cross contamination. Catering for customers who are particularly at risk of food-borne illness, including allergies and intolerance. Correct cleaning and sanitizing procedures, cleaning products and their correct use, and the storage of cleaning items such as brushes, mops and cloths. Personal hygiene, hand washing, illness, and protective clothing. People responsible for serving unsafe food can be liable for heavy fines under this new legislation, consumers are pleased that industry will be forced to take food safety seriously. China[edit]Main article: Food safety in the People’s Republic of China Food safety is a growing concern in Chinese agriculture. The Chinese government oversees agricultural production as well as the manufacture of food packaging, containers, chemical additives, drug production, and business regulation. In recent years, the Chinese government attempted to consolidate food regulation with the creation of the State Food and Drug Administration in 2003, and officials have also been under increasing public and international pressure to solve food safety problems. However, it appears that regulations are not well known by the trade. Labels used for â€Å"green† food, â€Å"organic† food and â€Å"pollution-free† food are not well recognized by traders and many are unclear about their meaning. A survey by the World Bank found that supermarket managers had difficulty in obtaining produce that met safety requirements and found that a high percentage of produce did not comply with established standards. [6] Traditional marketing systems, whether in China or the rest of Asia, presently provide little motivation or incentive for individual farmers to make improvements to either quality or safety as their produce tends to get grouped together with standard products as it progresses through the marketing channel. Direct linkages between farmer groups and traders or ultimate buyers, such as supermarkets, can help avoid this problem. Governments need to improve the condition of many markets through upgrading management and reinvesting market fees in physical infrastructure. Wholesale markets need to investigate the feasibility of developing separate sections to handle fruits and vegetables that meet defined safety and quality standards. [7] European Union[edit]The parliament of the European Union (EU) makes legislation in the form of directives and regulations, many of which are mandatory for member states and which therefore must be incorporated into individual countries’ national legislation. As a very large organisation that exists to remove barriers to trade between member states, and into which individual member states have only a proportional influence, the outcome is often seen as an excessively bureaucratic ‘one size fits all’ approach. However, in relation to food safety the tendency to err on the side of maximum protection for the consumer may be seen as a positive benefit. The EU parliament is informed on food safety matters by the European Food Safety Authority. Individual member states may also have other legislation and controls in respect of food safety, provided that they do not prevent trade with other states, and can differ considerably in their internal structures and approaches to the regulatory control of food safety. France[edit]Agence nationale de securite sanitaire de l’alimentation, de l’environnement et du travail (anses) is a French governmental agency dealing with food safety. Germany[edit]The Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer. Protection (BMELV)[8] is a Federal Ministry of the Federal Republic of Germany. History: Founded as Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Foresting in 1949, this name did not change until 2001. Then the name changed to Federal Ministry of Consumer Protection, Food and Agriculture. At the 22nd of November 2005, the name got changed again to its current state: Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection. The reason for this last change was that all the resorts should get equal ranking which was achieved by sorting the resorts alphabetically. Vision: A balanced and healthy diet with safe food, distinct consumer rights and consumer information for various areas of life, and a strong and sustainable agriculture as well as perspectives for our rural areas are important goals of the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (BMELV). The Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety is under the control of the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection. It exercises several duties, with which it contributes to safer food and thereby intensifies health-based consumer protection in Germany. Food can be manufactured and sold within Germany without a special permission, as long as it does not cause any damage on consumers’ health and meets the general standards set by the legislation. However, manufacturers, carriers, importers and retailers are responsible for the food they pass into circulation. They are obliged to ensure and document the safety and quality of their food with the use of in-house control mechanisms. Hong Kong[edit]In Hong Kong SAR, the Centre for Food Safety is in charge of ensuring food sold is safe and fit for consumption. India[edit]Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, is the regulating body related to food safety and laying down of standards of food in India. New Zealand[edit]See also: Food safety in New Zealand The New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA), or Te Pou Oranga Kai O Aotearoa is the New Zealand government body responsible for food safety. NZFSA is also the controlling authority for imports and exports of food and food-related products. The NZFSA as of 2012 is now a division of the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and is no longer its own organization. Pakistan[edit]Pakistan does not have an integrated legal framework but has a set of laws, which deals with various aspects of food safety. These laws, despite the fact that they were enacted long time ago, have tremendous capacity to achieve at least minimum level of food safety. However, like many other laws, these laws remain very poorly enforced. There are four laws that specifically deal with food safety. Three of these laws directly focus issues related to food safety, while the fourth, the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority Act, is indirectly relevant to food safety. The Pure Food Ordinance 1960 consolidates and amends the law in relation to the preparation and the sale of foods. All provinces and some northern areas have adopted this law with certain amendments. Its aim is to ensure purity of food being supplied to people in the market and, therefore, provides for preventing adulteration. The Pure Food Ordinance 1960 does not apply to cantonment areas. There is a separate law for cantonments called â€Å"The Cantonment Pure Food Act, 1966†. There is no substantial difference between the Pure Food Ordinance 1960 and The Cantonment Pure Food Act. Even the rules of operation are very much similar. Pakistan Hotels and Restaurant Act, 1976 applies to all hotels and restaurants in Pakistan and seeks to control and regulate the rates and standard of service(s) by hotels and restaurants. In addition to other provisions, under section 22(2), the sale of food or beverages that are contaminated, not prepared hygienically or served in utensils that are not hygienic or clean is an offense. There are no express provisions for consumer complaints in the Pakistan Restaurants Act, 1976, Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 and Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority Act, 1996. The laws do not prevent citizens from lodging complaints with the concerned government officials; however, the consideration and handling of complaints is a matter of discretion of the officials. [9] South Korea[edit]Korea Food & Drug Administration[edit]Korea Food & Drug Administration (KFDA)[10] is working for food safety since 1945. It is part of the Government of South Korea. IOAS[11]-Organic Certification Bodies Registered in KFDA: â€Å"Organic† or related claims can be labelled on food products when organic certificates are considered as valid by KFDA. KFDA admits organic certificates which can be issued by 1) IFOAM (International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movement) accredited certification bodies 2) Government accredited certification bodies – 328 bodies in 29 countries have been registered in KFDA. Food Import Report: According to Food Import Report,[12] it is supposed to report or register what you import. Competent authority is as follows: Product.

Culture and Formation of Culture Essay

The word culture can be referred to the behavior of the human beings specifically with the objects, things and commodities around them and these objects are used as an essential part of this behavior. In this sense it is only the ability of the mankind to create a culture. And culture itself will include all the norms and behaviors of human beings like language, customs, beliefs, religions, tool, techniques, arts, rituals, ceremonies and common practice of every day life. There are numerous definitions of culture and every anthropologist has a different view about it. Some has defined culture as â€Å"learned behavior† or â€Å"ideas in mind† or â€Å"a logical construct†, but the most favored definition is that culture is â€Å"the abstraction from behavior† (Culture). Certeau (xi) states that Culture is the combination of every day practices of the societies. But instead of making the unit force an individual he has taken a more economist perspective and regarded them as â€Å"consumers† (Certeau, xi). While John Fiske produced a two economic theory and regards culture as a parallel economy against the financial economy and has named it as â€Å"cultural economy† (Fiske, 538). As every economy has a capital the cultural economy’s capital consists of pleasure and meanings (Fiske, 541). Frederick Engels while speaking in the context of history defines culture as â€Å"traditions, which haunt human minds† (Engels, 10). Speaking conclusively culture is not only behavior neither an action, but it is the combination of abstraction and behavior or a behavior explicating a concept. Formation of Culture: According the theory of evolution, the advancement of the human behavior from natural to learned and freely variable behavior, the particulars of which have the tendency to be transferred to the next generation and has the ability to evolve into a system of things. Thus culture is a man made environment brought into existence by the human ability to symbol. When a culture is established then it has a life of its own. It is a range of things and events in a cause and effect relationship (Culture). Different theorists have argued about the formation of culture in their own specific way and style. According to Bourdieu â€Å"cultural needs are the product of upbringing and education† (Bourdieu, 42). He initially states that the production of cultural goods as well as the description of different ways of appropriating these goods as work of arts as well as providing social conditions, which are considered legitimate (Bourdieu, 42). He further emphasis that all social practices, which are the core of any culture, are traced back to education or social origin (Bourdieu, 42). On the other hand Fiske says that culture is the opposite force developed in response to the producers of consumer goods. He states that culture is the parellel economic system, which runs in response to the financial economic system. According to him it’s capital is meanings and pleasure (Fiske, 538). This is a more economic perspective of rather than the anthropological perspective. Theodor Adorno while discussing the evolution of popular music culture states that the popular music culture and its hold on the masses is because of the urge to distract the individuals from the current realities to the world of fantasy, and popular music has the ability to distract the listener from it (Adorno, 80,81). Thus according to him a culture evolves as a reaction of the current cultural norms. That is the main reason that the popular culture did not evolved before the industrial revolution. Social Relations: Social relations are the behaviors of different social groups related to and in response of each other. Thus speaking about the ruling class, which is also regarded as the elite class or aristocracy is the social group, which has the means of production at its disposal Thus the ruling ideas and concepts are the expressions of dominant material relationships (Marx & Engels, 8). According to Marx and Engels the historically speaking the relationship of the individual and the ruling class are reflected by the dominance of ideas and concepts during the dominance of that ruling class. For instance during the dominion of the aristocracy the concepts of loyalty and honor were dominant, while during the dominion of the bourgeoisie the concepts of equality and freedom were dominant (Marx and Engels, 8). The relation between the ruling class and the lower class has two ways. Either it leads or it dominates. The first relation is with its allies while the second is with its enemies (Gramsci, 12) Thus the social relations between the aristocracy has two conditions. If the aristocracy has friendly terms with the lower class, the lower class will follow accordingly under its leadership. But if the lower class does not consent the way the ruling class leads it will refuse to follow. As a result the ruling class will try to dominate the lower class in order to maintain its status. Marx has regarded the aristocracy as the material forces of production, which sometimes come into conflict with the property relations that is the lower class and results in the social revolution (Marx, 9). Engels says that the economic political and traditional i. e cultural factors are interrelated and they in combination play the determined role in the formation of history. Thus history is the product of the combine efforts of the economical, political and demographical factors. Thus one can very easily find the social relation between the economy, politics and cultural norms. Works Cited Adorno, Theodor W. â€Å"On Popular Music† Studies in Philosophy and Social Sciences. 1941. Bourdieu, Pierre. â€Å"Distinction and The Aristocracy of Culture†. Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgment of Taste. 1984, Routledge, London. Certeau, Michel de. â€Å"The Practice of Every Day Life† 1984, Berkley University California Press. â€Å"Culture. † Encyclop? dia Britannica. 2007. Encyclop? dia Britannica 2006 Ultimate Reference Suite DVD 8 May, 2007. Fiske, John. â€Å"The Popular Economy† Television Culture. 1987, Routledge, London. Gramsci, Antonio. â€Å"Hegomony, Intellectuals and the State† Princeton Notebooks, Lawrence & Wishart, London. Marx, Karl. â€Å"Base & Superstructure† A Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy. 1976, Foreign Languages Press, Peking. Marx, Karl & Engels, Federick. â€Å"Ruling Class and Ruling Ideas† The German Ideology. 1970, Lawrence & Wishart, London. Marx, Karl & Engels. â€Å"A Letter to Joseph Bloch† Selected Letters. 1977, Foreign Languages Press, Peking.

Global Growing Challenges Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Global Growing Challenges - Case Study Example International Monetary Fund has also confirmed the fact that the ten fastest growing economies of the world would be emerging as powerful nations in the near future (Dewhurst, Harris and Heywood â€Å"The Global Company’s Challenge†). Against this backdrop, the discussion in this report would be on the growing global challenges that a plastic bottle manufacturing company, Logoplaste was facing. The objective would be to conduct a strategic analysis of the company, its products and the industry it is functioning in. This would assist in identification of the critical success factors for the growth and development of the company. Company Overview Logoplaste, a company that produced rigid plastic containers, was established in the year 1976. This company has been a pioneer in the plastic packaging segment since a span of 35 years. It has more than 60 factories in 16 locations around the world. Logoplaste utilizes state-of-the-art machineries in its factories. It follows ju st-in-time and â€Å"Hole in the wall† method of product delivery, which gives the company an advantage over its competitors. Logoplaste is the third largest company for container transformer in Europe and second largest in Brazil. The goal of the company is to attend an annual growth of 15 percent in every country it has its operation in and acquire a new business contract every year. This goal of the company is inspired by its vision, which states that in order to retain the position in the industry; the company should keep on growing in terms of size and revenue (â€Å"Logoplaste Activity†). Business Model The business model of the company is based on five pillars; focus, close relation with customers, win-win approach, services and investment. In order to maintain a balance between these pillars, Logoplaste has certain strategies, which provides competitive edge to the company. Logoplaste consider itself to be a global player, so it focuses on the leading companies present in the market. The motto of the company is to invest in technology and innovate, so that not only the company can grow but its employees can mature in terms of their standard of living (â€Å"Logoplaste Activity†). Customers Logoplaste mainly functions in the fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) segment. The customers of Logoplaste are Procter & Gamble and Coca Cola are the largest customers of the company, which Logoplaste supplies containers and packages for many well-known FMCG companies around the world. The FMCG companies find the plastic containers to be the most convenient and cheap alternative for product packaging. Almost all the FMCG companies directly or indirectly avail plastic containers of Logoplaste (Alcacer and Leitao 1-19). Distribution Transporting the plastic containers in high volume is economically unviable because when they are empty there are ample chances of damage. This is the reason why the suppliers of the containers set their plants near the filter plants of the clients, so as to eliminate the cost of transportation, but this decreases the diversification benefits and scale (Alcacer and Lei

Contemporary Issues in World Politics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Contemporary Issues in World Politics - Essay Example New theories have indicated that the mutual dependence between national-states and transnational political actors has expanded. From a traditional grouping, non-state actors can be classified into two groups; International non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs). IGOs consist of non-state actors established by the nation-states. The IGOs can be classified according to their roles; for example, economic, political, and environmental IGOs. NGOs can be established by a group of persons, and not the nation-states. NGOs play a vital role in nation-state and world politics through determination of policies. This assignment will critically analyze the view that non-state actors have become irrelevant to world politics. More specifically, it will cover the influential role of IGOs and NGOs in world politics. Critically analyze the proposition that non-state actors are irrelevant to world politics. Non-state actors play a significant role in foreign po licy formation of nation-states and influence their foreign policy behavior significantly. They gather in domestic and international settings and mobilize 2global and national public opinion. These non-state actors work in different states; therefore, the non-state actors can exploit nation-states against each other. Through the hiring of political leaders and bureaucrats, non-state actors use individual connections of their employees. This implies that they have a significant influence to politics in the world. It has become evident that the nation-states cannot do without the non-state actors in dealing with issues relating to climate change, food shortage, overpopulation, and poverty among other problems. These problems emanate from bureaucracy and domestic politics. Since IGOs are instruments of the states, they influence national-states in making political and bureaucratic policies, which help in solving the problems of the nation-states (Brown 1995, p. 57). Hence, they become an integral part of world politics. There exists a strong connection between the role of non-state actors and the distribution of power. Without proper exercise of power nation-states would become unruly; power is the principal variable that explains behavior of states (Bennet 1994, p. 43). Most international actors act with a self interest of what they will gain. However, the non-state actors play a significant role in observing the behavior changes of nation-states. The non-state actors ensure there is a total behavior change in the nation-states faced with power dilemmas. This means that; the non-state actors concentrate on a long term solution rather than concentrating on a short term solution in dealing with issues of powers dilemma in nation-states (Donelly 1994, p. 66). As a result, non-state actors play considerably significant role in world politics. Donelly (1994, p. 79)3 concludes that political scientists and neo-realists appreciate the role of non-state actors in politi cs of the world. The non-state actors’ role is significant in the international politics and has expanded internationally with the increasing level of nation-state interdependence. Increasing transactions and common concerns on global problems require collaboration between the nation-states and the transnational organizations. In most of the problems brought by political indifferences

HR Hiring and retention Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

HR Hiring and retention - Term Paper Example stake that an employer can make is to leave a job vacancy unoccupied as he or she continues to hope that the perfect person will eventually be found to fill in this position. In reality, the best candidates in the job market find jobs opportunities within a short time and thus will not be going to numerous interviews, as they will easily secure the jobs they want without going through numerous interviews. It is important to note that there are many other people with an ability to fill the position and may even fit into the company in a better way than the perceived perfect candidate may. In the process of hiring managers also have to abide by a strict budget and this means that there is a chance the perfect will not agree with the terms, however, this does not imply that managers should therefore settle for employees with lower qualifications. Instead, they should remain practical in the process of searching for the most suitable employee. Hunting for the best employee involves a num ber of steps that will ensure that the process of recruitment and hiring is done at the top level. One of the steps involves developing a hiring strategy , which regardless of whether all the positions are full at the present, has to be identified in order to know the manner in which the future employees will be found so that the process can be smooth. A good business should always have knowledge of the way it will seek candidates to fill positions and this means it should come up with a plan that will be in place in the event that a vacancy arises. Another step involves focusing more on training, as through training the workers in the appropriate manner, the company will not have to worry about the recruitment of candidates in the future since most of the employees will be retained at the company. The workers will also be happier and more motivated when they have a good understanding of the activities they are supposed to undertake and how they increase the productivity of the

Nutritional Assessment Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Nutritional Assessment - Assignment Example a measurement is important is that for one, we can track the growth of infants and children by measuring their weight to length, the circumference of their heads, and the length, height, and weight. In the case of infants and toddlers, length is used because they are not able to stand properly or at all. Nutritional assessments are measured on adults by using the body mass index, measuring their percentage of body fat, and measuring their hip to waist ratio. This type of measurement is useful in enabling us to determine whether or not patients are at risks for certain diseases (Advameg, Inc., 2010). An example of an anthropometric measurement study is a study done by Raja Chakraborty and Kausik Bose to determine the nutritional status of men of the Gumla District, where the tribal populations are very undernourished (Chakraborty, Bose, 2008). The object of this study was to determine the similarities in the effects that undernourishment has on health as well as the reason for its occurrence. In order for an intervention or a cure, anthropometric measurements must be taken as this gives an indication of the extent of the effects that certain types of nutrition have on our bodies as well as helps the observer to best determine what source of action would be best suited to the patient. This is the reason that observers must be trained to collect anthropometric measurements in studies of nutritional status. In order for us to properly assess a child and whether or not he has a Vitamin A deficiency, it is important that we know the signs. Knowing the signs will not only enable us to detect the Vitamin A deficiency itself, we will also be able to determine the source of the deficiency, such as liver disorder/disease or malabsorbtion syndrome. The most common signs and symptoms of a child suffering from a Vitamin A deficiency is night blindness which can later progress to permanent blindness as a result of retinal injury. Assessing the extent of the clinical signs

Effects of the Vietnam War Debt on America Essay

Effects of the Vietnam War Debt on America - Essay Example 2. Background of the U.S. Involvement in the Vietnam War Initially, the United States did not take sides on the war in Vietnam. However, a series of global events provoked the United States into backing up France. This was after President Harry S. Truman promised to assist the French in sustaining their control in Indochina. Consequently, the United Sates got involved in Vietnam. Before the war, in one way or the other, the United States believed that it was in charge of maintaining order in the world. Among Harry Truman’s foreign policies was the policy to control communism and this was very evident in Southeast Asia. During Eisenhower’s administration, the United States continued to directly support the French in form of equipment, weapons and technical assistance. According to a report by Charles E. Wilson, who was the defense secretary during Eisenhower’s first term as president, millions of dollars were allocated to the French Union Forces, in addition to a program for regular Indochinese military assistance for equipment and weapons. Campagna states that â€Å"In September 1953, $385 million were allocated to the direct support of the French Union Forces and added to the $400 million previously appropriated for this purpose in the budget for fiscal year 1954† (3). ... This led to the transfer of these funds from assistance programs to other accounts of allotment. At the same time, a complete account of the amounts spent in Vietnam was demanded revealing the total dollars spent by the United States from 1953 to 1965. The cost of military personnel in Vietnam was not included in the accounts, as it was not clear how many dollars had been spent on this, despite the fact that between 1954 and 1961, the number of troops assigned to Vietnam had gradually increased (Campagna 5). The amounts in millions of dollars are shown in the following table: Fiscal Year Agency for International Development and other Agencies Public Law 480 (all titles) Total 1953-1957 783.9 39.4 823.3 1958 179.1 9.7 188.8 1959 200.6 6.5 207.1 1960 169.0 11.5 180.5 1961 132.6 12.0 144.6 1962 110.7 32.5 143.2 1963 133.2 64.3 197.5 1964 159.3 71.0 230.3 1965 216.1 52.8 268.9 Total 2084.5 299.7 2384.2 Source: Campagna, Anthony S., The Economic Consequences of the Vietnam War, New York: Praeger Publishers, 1991, Print, table 1.1. At this time, it was difficult to determine whether the total amounts spent in Vietnam, with or without the personnel costs, would have an impact on the economy of the United States. In the 1950s, the economy of the United States underwent a period of stagnation with three recessions during Eisenhower’s administration reducing the economic growth rate of the nation to 2.4 percent (Campagna 5). During this era, the economic and technological growth of the Soviet Union was higher than that of the United States. This brought about charges as a result of the technology gap. The United States however closed this gap by establishing the National Aeronautics and Space

The Role Of Gender In Team Collaboration Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Role Of Gender In Team Collaboration - Essay Example I learned how gendered communication and decision-making can affect the kinds of jobs and wage levels of women and men (Parcheta et al., 2013, p.244). The second proof the case study is awareness of skills needed to handle current workplace challenges. I learned that women should enhance their communication and negotiation skills that are related to their performance (Bear & Woolley, 2011, p.148). They should not be afraid of being aggressive in fighting for equal pay or promotion. The cons of doing the case study are related to examining exceptions to gender stereotypes and social generalizations. The first con of the case study is it does not consider men and women who do not fit in gender stereotypes. Some women are not timid in negotiation processes, while some men are not that aggressive in fighting for higher pay. The case study assumes that men and women, in general, have these gender-stereotyped characteristics, thereby neglecting individual differences. The second con of the case study is it has the tendency to overlook companies that may have benchmarks already when it comes to challenging gender stereotypes and in promoting gender equality in top management positions, high-paying positions, and gender wage. Some companies are making headways in undercutting gender bias and promoting equality across all workplace avenues. One of the actions that can help stop sexual harassment in the workplace is to promote refresher training on sexual harassment using office hours time. Using office/employment time is already a strong signal that the company takes sexual harassment seriously because learning about it is part of paid labor. In addition, refresher courses update employees about sexual harassment reports and their resolutions at work or in the industry, thereby showing that the company does not take harassment reports lightly.

American politics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

American politics - Essay Example The conflicts like India-Pakistan, Israel - Palestinians, US-Afghanistan etc are causing immense damage to the economic development prospects of these countries. Many Americans believe that the current financial crisis affected America severely because of the huge expenditure made on war on terror. When globalization initially appears on the horizon, many developing and underdeveloped countries watched it suspiciously. Many people suspected some hidden agenda of the capitalist countries behind globalization. The slogan of collective growth or the principles of globalization put forward by the capitalist countries were considered as a deliberate attempt by the capitalist countries to exploit the wealth and natural resources of other countries. China was the front runner in spreading this message to other countries. However, China is the number country at present as far as the exploitation of globalization is concerned and America is struggling to reap the benefits out of globalization. BRIC countries, Brazil, Russia, India and China are the front runners as far as the exploitation of globalization are concerned. The recent economic crisis affect ted America more than any other countries in the world. While American organizations started to collapse one by one, the organizations in BRIC countries escaped without many damages. American market is exploited by foreigners at present whereas America failed to exploit the global markets as effectively as some of the other countries. Foreign countries invest in American share markets or in Wall Street Firms and they are making a substantial income from there. Moreover, India and China like countries are benefitted immensely by the outsourcing works from America. Obama is trying hard to prevent work outflow or the capital outflow from America. But his efforts are not succeeded yet and still other countries exploiting the resources of America more than America exploiting their resources. In

Workforce diversity and HR Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Workforce diversity and HR - Coursework Example An overview of LOCOG indicates that it is a temporary organization established in 2005 for the ultimate aim of delivering the most challenging international project to the standards required by the International Olympic Committee through the defined time frame culminating on the 27th of July, 2012. Due to the disclosed need to live up to the worldwide expectations associated with the global brand of the Olympics, as host organization, LOCOG is expected to present a compendium detailing the importance of managing workforce diversity. Likewise, as HR Manager of LOCOG, one is tasked with presenting ways by which HR can significantly contribute towards the organization’s broader objective of diversity. Therefore, the current discourse used three specifically identified articles written by Shen, Chanda, D’Netto, and Monga (2009); McCuiston, Wooldrige, and Pierce (2004); as well as Mannix and Neale (2005) to present the crucial information supporting the need to manage divers ity at LOCOG and to identify specific means by which HR can contribute towards the organization’s broader objective of adhering and complying with maintaining a diversified workforce. The compendium would initially present a brief definition of terms, specifically on ‘diversity† as seen from various authors’ perspectives. Then, the importance of workforce diversity would be expounded; prior to delving into HR’s contribution to LOCOG’s diversity goals. Definition of Terms To ensure that LOCOG’s management would be accurately informed on the crucial concepts, theories and applications on workforce diversity, it is pertinent that a definition of the term ‘diversity’ be presented and expounded. According to Mannix and Neale (2005), the authors agreed on using the definition cited by Williams and O’Reilly (1998), to wit: â€Å"any attribute that another person may use to detect individual differences’’ (p. 81). On the other hand, Shen, Chanda, D’Netto and Monga (2009) emphasized clearly that â€Å"workforce diversity acknowledges the reality that people differ in many ways, visible or invisible, mainly age, gender, marital status, social status, disability, sexual orientation, religion, personality, ethnicity and culture (Kossek, Lobel and Brown 2005)† (p. 235). Diversity therefore manifests and accepts disparities in cultural orientation seen to be a crucial factor in the successful performance of various contemporary organizations. In the situation of LOCOG, since the organization would be directly and closely involved in interacting and governing peoples all over the world, it is imperative that managing diversity within their workforce would embody the organization’s ideals and philosophies and form an integral part of their value system. Importance of Workforce Diversity The importance in managing workforce diversity has been greatly illumined by Shen, et.al. (2009) as it focuses not so much on â€Å"accepting that individuals are different but creating an atmosphere of inclusion and making a commitment to valuing diversity† (p. 236). From a review of related literature, Shen, et.al. (2009) cited the following benefits and advantages of supporting a diverse workforce, as summarized below: Provides opportunities of improving the quality of decision making through innovative ideas and offering superior solutions to problems (Australian Centre for International Business (ACIB), 2000; Mannix and Neale 2005). Provides a â€Å"better-quality solution to brainstorming tasks, displays more cooperative behavior, relative to homogenous groups, and can raise organizational efficiency, effectiveness and profitability†

Psychology Essay Example for Free

Psychology Essay This required Portfolio assignment will provide you with the opportunity to practice and hone your research skills. It has been designed to help you think scientifically about real world problems and issues and to apply your knowledge of the research process to various topics in Psychology. This assignment accomplishes that goal by challenging you to: †¢ Differentiate between the common use of the word research and the use of the word research in the social and behavioral sciences †¢ Identify the major steps in the research process using a classic study in Psychology as an example. Part I: Defining Research The word research is used in many different ways. Consider the following examples: †¢ Your friend tells you that he intends to research different hair products before deciding on one to buy. †¢ A real estate agent advises you to research home values in your neighborhood before putting your house on the market. †¢ A police officer reports that she is doing ‘some research’ on possible motives for a crime that was committed. †¢ A writer states that he does ‘extensive research’ before beginning his fictional works. Answer the questions below: 1. How is research defined in the social and behavioral sciences? 2. What makes scientific research different from the examples provided above? In your response, be sure to address the characteristics of ‘good’ psychological research. Part II: Understanding the research process Researchers in Psychology follow a systematic process of investigation. Carefully read Chapter 2 of your textbook, paying special attention to the section on Experimental Research. Then go to Chapter 7 in your textbook and read the following section: Research In-Depth: Counterfactuals and â€Å"If Only†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Thinking. Answer the questions below, using Medvec colleagues’ first study as an example: 1. What hypothesis did Medvec colleagues set out to test in their first study of the ‘near miss’ phenomenon? Describe the theory associated with this hypothesis. 2. Identify the variables in the study and describe how they were measured. How did the researchers operationalize (test or measure) affective response upon winning a bronze or silver medal? 3. Who were the participants in the study and what did they do? 4. Describe the data that were collected and analyzed. 5. Describe the results of the study. What did the researchers conclude? 6. If you were to design a follow-up experiment on this subject, what might it be?

Role of the Genes COLEC11 and MASP1 in Embryonic Development

Role of the Genes COLEC11 and MASP1 in Embryonic Development Vigneshwaree Sabapathy Mutations in the genes COLEC11 and MASP1 which code for lectin complement pathway proteins have been found responsible for a rare autosomal recessive disorder resulting in abnormal development. This proposes that other constituent proteins may play a role in embryonic development. To this day, the genetic aspects of the stages involved in embryonic development that leads to certain congenital disorders are still not fully understood. As a result, researchers start off with identifying the genes that play a part in causing a congenital disorder before determining how these genes bring about the disorder. This approach was adopted by Rooryck et al.1 to help prove that mutations in the genes COLEC11 and MASP1, involved in the lectin complement pathway were responsible for 3MC syndrome. The 3MC syndrome is an abbreviation of Michels, Mingarelli, Malpuech and Carnevale syndrome. These four syndromes are rare autosomal disorder that follows a recessive order of inheritance. The 3MC syndrome is characterised by blepharophimosis, ptosis of the eyelids, cleft lip and palate, craniosynostosis, hypertelorism and in some cases renal anomalies and umbilical hernia1,2. Furthermore, growth retardation, mental retardation and urogenital anomalies are also common features in all four syndromes2,3. After much research, it was found that the overlapping similarities in phenotype and Gestalt between these four syndromes are more significant than the differences between them2. Therefore, these evidence lead to the assumption that the syndromes are allelic variations of one another and belong to the same spectrum2. Rooryck and colleagues started off their study by first collecting DNA samples from individuals diagnosed with Michels, Mingarelli, Malpuech and Carnevale syndromes and all their available family members. Their genomes were then screened for single nucleotide polymorphisms which are homozygous in all affected individuals but absent in unaffected individuals. From the individuals tested, there were four consanguineous families. The genotyping results from members of these families showed a homozygous region of 2.2 MB at 2p25.3 in affected individuals1. Moreover, a region of homozygosity was found in two other families at 3q27.31,4. These findings suggest that the 3MC syndrome could be caused by multiple genes. From the sequencing of the open reading frames at the 2p25.3 region, 15 candidate genes were found, of which 9 were sequenced. Sequencing of these transcripts in affected individuals revealed three homozygous missense mutations and a single base deletion in COLEC11 that may be linked to the inheritance of the 3MC syndrome. Furthermore, the single base deletion in COLEC11 was found to play a role in the premature termination of the gene product CL-K1. CL-K1 is a C-type lectin that acts as a host defence by binding to carbohydrate antigens on microorganisms and activating the innate immune system5,6. Due to its function, it tends to circulate in the serum. In addition, being highly conserved in various species means that a mutation would be damaging to the function of the protein. Hence, to ensure that this mutation is an underlying cause of the 3MC syndrome, a protein blot assay was conducted to detect CL-K1 in the serum from two affected individuals. However, none was detected, indic ating a connection between the syndrome and the loss of function mutation in COLEC11. At the same time, the expression of CL-K1 was observed in certain mouse tissues that have been known to be affected by the disorder in humans1. In the same way, sequencing at the 3q27.3 region found 16 candidate genes potentially linked to the 3MC syndrome. One of these genes is the MASP1 gene which encodes for mannan-binding lectin serine protease 1 (MASP-1), a serine protease that is important in the lectin complement pathway4. Rooryck et al.1 then sequenced this gene in the two affected families and discovered two homozygous single base substitutions in exon 12. As predicted, the loss of function of this gene is consistent with the inheritance of 3MC syndrome. To study the effect of the loss-of-function of these proteins as well as to ensure that both the COLEC11 and MASP1 genes are accountable for the abnormalities witnessed in 3MC syndrome, knockdown studies were conducted using zebrafish. In these studies, two antisense morpholinos for COLEC11 were injected into one-cell stage embryos of zebrafish so as to imitate the loss-of-function of the gene. The same was done for the MASP1 gene. Based on the results from these studies, COLEC11 and MASP1 genes were found to cause similar phenotypes. The zebrafish morphants subjected to both these treatments displayed morphological abnormalities such as pigmentation and craniofacial cartilage defect similar to the symptoms of 3MC syndrome. Interestingly, when co-injected with a fully functional COLEC11 mRNA, the observed abnormalities in the zebrafish are reversed. Additionally, injecting a low dosage of both colec11 and masp1 morpholinos into the zebrafish embryos at the same time gave rise to simi lar deformities observed when injected separately, suggesting an interaction between the two genes5. Thanks to the pigmentation and craniofacial cartilage defects noted in zebrafish morphants, further studies were carried out to determine whether the CL-K1 and MASP-1 proteins are involved in the migration of cranial neural crest cells (NCCs) during embryonic development. Findings by Rooryck et al.1 in this part of the study revealed that beads coated with CL-K1 attracted NCCs when placed in the head region of zebrafish embryo. On the other hand, control beads implanted in the same region did not display the same attraction to NCCs. This proves the possibility that CL-K1 play a role in guiding the migration of neural crest cells. Similar results were also seen in a test using CL-K1 agarose disk and HeLa cells. At present, since the roles of both the COLEC11 and MASP1 genes in embryonic development have been discovered, more focus is required in investigating how the lectin complement pathway regulates embryonic development in addition to the role of the gene product, CL-K1 in early developmental processes. Likewise, the possibility of other constituent proteins and complement systems being involved in embryogenesis should also be considered. Therefore, further research on these aspects can help in the management of other congenital genetic disorders. (996 words) References: Rooryck, C. et al. Mutations in lectin complement pathway genes COLEC11 and MASP1 cause 3MC syndrome. Nat. Genet. 43, 197-203 (2011). Titomanlio, L. et al. Michels Syndrome, Carnevale Syndrome, OSA Syndrome, and Malpuech Syndrome: Variable Expression of a Single Disorder (3MC Syndrome)? Am. J. Med. Genet. 137A, 332–335 (2005). Kerstjens-Frederikse, W.S., Brunner, H.G., van Dael, C.M.L. van Essen, A.J. Malpuech Syndrome: Three Patients and a Review. Am. J. Med. Genet. 134A, 450–453 (2005). Sirmaci et al. MASP1 Mutations in Patients with Facial, Umbilical, Coccygeal, and Auditory Findings of Carnevale, Malpuech, OSA, and Michels Syndromes. Am. J. Human Genet. 87, 679–686 (2010). Hansen, S. et al. Collectin 11 (CL-11, CL-K1) Is a MASP-1/3–Associated Plasma Collectin with Microbial-Binding Activity. J. Immunol. 185, 6096–6104 (2010). Keshi, H et al. Identification and characterization of a novel human collectin CL-K1. Microbiol Immunol. 50, 1001-1013 (2006).

Boracay Tourist Attractions

Boracay Tourist Attractions According to Tourism Philippines, Boracay is famous for its long white sandy beaches, and is also a popular outlet for water sports activities such as scuba diving, snorkeling, sailing etc. Other than the sandy beaches, Boracay is well known for the nightlife and party scene. There are numerous bars and clubs along the whole stretch of beach, mostly located at station 2 of Boracay. Spas are also readily at most places; you can even find freelance masseurs patrolling the beaches! (Tourism Philippines, 2008, Retrieved From: http://tourism-philippines.com/boracay-travel-guide/) According to corporate.mozcom.com, The best part of the island is its 4 km. White Beach, also called long beach by the locals. It is situated at the west coast between the villages of Angol and Balabag, and some experienced travellers claim it to be the finest beach of all Asia. The water is shallow here and its sand brighter and finer than most beaches in the archipelago. There are about 350 beach resorts with 2000 rooms to suit virtually everyones taste. There is accommodation of all types and price categories. Restaurants range form the native fastfood stalls to establishments that would satisfy even a gourmet. You can find beer joints as well as discos with amazing light and sound equipment. (corporate.mozcom.com, n.d, Retrieved From: http://corporate.mozcom.com/dot/r6/borfacts.html) Nestor P. Burgos Jr. of the Philippine Daily Inquirer states that, DISCERNING travelers and tourists prefer destinations off the beaten track. But many of them still end up in the world-famous beach of Boracay Island in Aklan. This is because of its white beach and fine white sand and crystal clear waters, according to Edwin Trompeta, regional director for Western Visayas of the Department of Tourism. The beach and waters combined with the islands nightlife make Boracay irresistible, he says. Despite controversies on land ownership and unregulated development, Boracay has drawn more tourists every year because of its famous white beach, consistently included in the lists of the best beaches in the world. Furthermore, the global economic slump has failed to dampen tourist arrivals with new foreign markets and local tourists making up for the slack in visitors from countries hit hard by the world recession. As a matter of fact, tourist arrivals on the island have been on the upswing for a decade. They are up from 554,181 tourists in 2006, 596,707 in 2007, 634,263 in 2008 and 649,559 last year. For the first five months of this year, tourist arrivals have grown by 12 percent, according to data from the tourism office of Malay town in Aklan. Boracays peak season usually begins in October and lasts until May the following year From January to May 2010, tourist arrivals reached 378,694, higher than the 337,664 tourists who visited the island in the same period last year and the 320,994 tourists who came in 2008. The highest number was recorded in May with tourist arrivals reaching 101,349, higher than the 92,813 tourists in the same month in 2009 and 83,731 in 2008. More than 600,000 local and foreign tourists visited the white sand beaches and various parts of Boracay during the period, more than 40 percent higher than the 2009 figure of around 470,000. DOT 6 said they have recorded more than 230,000 foreign tourists in the island as of early October. This is good news amid the various travel advisories issued by several countries against visiting in the Philippines, the DOT 6 said. The United States, Australia and United Kingdom had earlier issued advisories as precautions in traveling to the country in the wake of reported terror threats. The tourism of Boracay is continuing to grow in fact, The News Today states that, Boracays revenue, mainly due to tourism, has reached P 12.17 billion as of the third quarter, higher compared to last years figures. Income from tourism in Boracay from January to May reached P6,961,683.28. (Burgos, 2010, Retrieved From: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view/20100814-286677/Boracay-tourism-still-up-amid-woes) Tourist Attractions and Activities in Boracay According to travelnet.com, Boracay is famous for the following: Beaches / White Beach Boracay boasts of a sugary white sand beach and azure blue waters. The best part of the island is the four-kilometer White Beach known to be the finest beach in the world. The surrounding water is shallow and the sand is finer and brighter than most beaches in the archipelago. White Beach is so, soooo fine, it feels like treading on miles of baby powder! Aquasports The island paradise of Boracay is a perfect place for watersports. Here, you can partake in a smorgasbord of exhilirating aqua action from swimming and snorkeling to scuba diving, windsurfing, sailboating, kayaking, boardsailing, and boating. Nature Tripping / Eco-Adventure World-renowned Boracay is an adventure island ideal for island hopping, hiking, trekking, caving, mountain climbing, biking, and horseback riding. Trekking and mountain biking can bring even the intrepid to the islands quaint interior villages and to the edges scenic rocky cliffs, discovering along the way many hidden coves with isolated beaches far from the  tourist crowd. Boardsailing at Bulabog Beach On the eastern side of Boracay Island is Bulabog Beach. It is a boardsailors mecca that draws enthusiasts from all over the world, especially during the peak season from November to March. In January, it is the site of an International Funboard Cup. Paraw Regatta Sailboating and kayaking are popular sporting activities, with Boracay playing host to the annual Paraw Regatta, an international sailboat race that makes use of the native outrigger. Diving Dive sites surround the island and are learning venues to both novice and professional divers, guided by competent instructors of the many dive shops that operate in the area. For trueblue scuba diving enthusiasts, Yapak in Boracay is a great deep dive. Recreational Sports Laid-back Boracay is the perfect venue for golf, tennis, bowling, even beach volleyball. Top-of-class amenities for these activities are available in the island. For golf bugs, Fairways and Bluewater Resort Golf and Countryclub has an 18-hole championship course. Partyhopping The code in Boracay is strictly informal. Walking barefoot than shod is the rule rather than the exception. Swinging discos have the beach for a floor, giving dance a new twist. From dusk to dawn, the island turns into one big party place where everyone is welcome to join in. Mambo Number 5 For the adventure-driven, Mambo Number 5 is a little bit of boating and wind surfing, a little bit of scuba diving, a little bit of trekking, a little bit of mountain biking, and a little bit of golf. Shopping Bargain shopping is a joy of a diversion while in Boracay. Souvenir pieces provide endless possibilities, from trinkets and native accessories made of shells and semi-precious stones to exotic or contemporary beach wear and fashion artworks. Dining The taste of the 6th Region, to which Boracay belongs, is quite simple. Charbroiled chicken is common fare. Another favorite dish is raw fish marinated in spicy vinegar. Dining is no problem in Boracay, with most resorts having their own restaurants that serve both Filipino and international cuisines. Small snack bars line the island. Relaxation Diversions are not a problem in Boracay, with leisure activities calendared throughout the year and amenities offered by some 350 tourist establishments. The island is ideal for beachbumming, relaxing, and simply lazing around. At the end of the day, unwind with a relaxing massage. The island never runs out skilled masseurs offering massage services by the beach. For a more luxurious treat, visit the new Mandala Spa. Boracay Boardsailing The picture-perfect tropical island of Boracay offers flat-water speed sailing, wave jumping, and longboard cruising. White Beach, shielded from the amihan, or northeast monsoon, is for beginners. Bulabog Beach, on the other side of the island, has ideal conditions for speed, slalom, and high-wind shortboard sailing. It is also the site of the annual Boracay International Funboard Cup. Tabon Strait has superb high-performance sailing, but there is a real risk of being swept away, so this site is for skilled sailors only. Tibiao Whitewater River Rising near the peak of Mt. Madja-as, the Tibiao River descends almost 2000m on its short but tumultuous journey to the sea. The lower section of the river, known as the Chicken Run, is grade 3; the more difficult upper section reaches grade 4. The Tibiao has all the classic features of a tropical whitewater river, with rich vegetation hemming the banks, views of rice terraces, spectacular falls and clear water. The river is close to Boracay and easily accessible. Natural Formations Beaches / White Beach Boracay boasts of a sugary white sand beach and azure blue waters. The best part of the island is the four-kilometer White Beach known to be the finest beach in the world. The surrounding water is shallow and the sand is finer and brighter than most beaches in the archipelago. White Beach is so, soooo fine, it feels like treading on miles of baby powder! Festivals Ati-Atihan (second weekend of January) January is the time to hang loose in Kalibo, the Land of the Atis and the gateway to Boracay. For all of three days, it celebrates the Ati-Atihan Festival where frenzied streetdancing is performed by costumed and black-sooted tribes as they wend through the main streets from dawn until the witching hours. Ati-Atihan commemorates the 13th-century land deal between ten migrating Bornean chieftains and the aboriginal Ati King Marikudo. It also honors the town patron, the infant Santo Nià ±o. To the accompaniment of hundreds of lyres and drums, merrymakers throw all inhibitions to the wind as they join the tribes in a mad jig punctuated by rhythmic shouts of: Hala bira! Puera pasma! Hala bira! Viva Santo Nià ±o! (Loosely translated: Let go! Dont get sick! Let go! Hail the Holy Child!) Paraw Regatta Yearly, Boracay Island plays host to the Paraw Regatta, an international sailboat race that  makes use of the native outrigger. International Funboard Cup A music and dance festivity depicting the history, folklore, and traditions of the Lobocanons. Bolibong Kingking is a term applied to the drums and gongs and their rhythm used to accompany the supplication dance ritual in front of the Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the 2nd Patron of Loboc. Pana-ad sa Loboc (Holy Thursday Good Friday) Bulabog Beach, situated on the eastern side of Boracay Island, is a boardsailors mecca that draws enthusiasts from all over the world. Every January, it is the site of an International Funboard Cup. Marketing Boracay A study was undertaken for the International Finance Corp. (IFC) by a team of Filipino and German consultants  to improve and develop Boracay to make it a world-class tourist destination. According to this study, the plan is achievable and through this, the island of Boracay can compete with other world-renowned beaches like those in Phuket, Thailand and Bali, Indonesia. The plan is to redesign the marketing strategy to make the island more visible and accessible to tourists from around the world, declared IFC Country Manager Vipul Bhagat. Boracay is presented as a haven of good investment opportunities, paying attention to strategic tourism marketing and promotion so as to invite and persuade more tourists into visiting the island. The study emphasizes the major changes which are intended to be done and implemented to develop, sustain and make Boracay a major destination for big-ticket tourism. These changes include the transfer of solid waste management facility from Boracay to Caticlan; the construction of low-cost mainland housing to ease migration and congestion in Boracay; improved transport facility between Boracay and Caticlan; development of Caticlans airport and marina; a Caticlan-based full service hospital to respond to emergencies, and; an agro-industrial center in Caticlan with ice and cold storage facilities and a public market. Issues like migration, zoning, lack of health facilities and medical personnel, visual and noise pollution, solid waste and water management, energy supply and intra- and inter-island transport are also addressed. In addition, the building of educational facilities offering tourism-related services, environmental management and eco-tourism in Caticlan was also recommended to raise the awareness of the locals to continue preserving, sustaining and developing the island that is considered as one of the Philippines most treasured and precious natural resources. .   To start with the marketing and strategic management development, the IFC conducted a web marketing seminar for local officials and businessmen to improve and hone their skills and utilize the use the Internet to market Boracay and improve and build-up its image. A separate forum for potential investors was also held in Manila.

The Devils Disciples :: Essays Papers

The Devils Disciples King James II’s rise to power in the 1680s became an extremely turbulent time for all under his reign. This was primary due to Catholic versus Protestant relations. Unlike his brother Charles II, James II openly professed his Catholic beliefs and granted religious freedom to all. Aside from religious toleration, his appointing of Catholics to high government posts enraged the Protestant colonialists even more. One individual was Governor Andros. He wrongfully imposed taxes, took way self-governing systems, ended jury trials, and oppressed Puritan beliefs. Peter Hoffer gives the reader an account of the Salem witch trials through the story of the Barbadian minister Parris, his daughter Betty, and his slave Tituba. In certain places, he eludes to mini-stories and small history explanations to help the reader better understand the Puritans way of thinking and Titunba’s African back round. Parris is called to Salem Town for a temporary position. However, through a town feud between two powerful Puritan families, Parris’ position soon becomes permanent. Like all small Puritan villages, Salem Town is a struggling Utopia. After James II leaves the throne, Governor Andros is murdered. The evasive Utopia, lost governor, struggling economy, cold winters, and deadly sicknesses that plague Salem Town put the residences faith to a test. One might ask why the Puritans, a religious sect thought to be quite holy, should have the most witchery. Hoffer explains how the Puritans â€Å"holy† attitudes and beliefs are partially the cause of their problems. Each Puritan village is a highly structured and disciplined society. The goal of each of these settlements is to achieve Utopia or something close to it. They fail to reach anything close. Because of this, many Puritans blame their problems on outside forces. Although somewhat educated, they attribute any discrepancies as the Devil’s work. More often than not, the victims were women and the suspects were women, raving the possibility that witchery and accusations of witchery were the way the struggling Puritans coped with their situation. This in not to say the belief in witches came about during this time. The belief in witches was widespread long before the witch trials. In fact, the government recognized its presence by making â€Å"malefician† (b ad magic) a felony. Witches were said to have certain meeting places, which were never actually seen, in which they held secret meetings and unholy rituals. Although no one ever saw a real witch gathering, this superstition was a mainstream belief.

Gun Control: Is It A Problem? :: Second Amendment The Right To Bear Arms

Ten-thousand, five-hundred, twenty-seven people die a year in a handgun related incidents in the United States. This number, by far, out weighs those gun related deaths in countries such as Sweden, Great Britain, and Japan, which number 13, 22, and 87 respectively. What is the reason for such drastic differences in numbers? The latter mentioned countries have stricter gun control laws and they require bare arm safety courses. These laws have a direct relationship to the number of gun deaths which occur each year from country to country. Perhaps if the U.S. would adopt some of those laws the number of deaths would drop accordingly. Winthrop addressed such a dilemma almost 350 years ago in his "Speech to the General Court" in 1645. Winthrop's two main problems were where do the rights of people stop and the magistrates' authority begin. According to Winthrop, people are naturally evil, and if left to their own devices, they will become even worse. Therefore, authority is a necessity. This same principle holds true for gun control. People here in the U.S. have the "right to bare arms," but with that right comes responsibility. As an American with that right you're not free to shoot anyone or anything at will. Government should create laws to protect the rights of others. I believe stricter gun control laws and better education on the use of guns is necessary. People of the U.S. aren't as rigidly regulated by gun laws compared to our European neighbors. In the United States it takes anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks to get a permit to carry a handgun. However, in most crimes committed with a handgun, the gun isn't even licensed. More authority is necessary to control the illegal handling of handguns. In England, guns which are permitted for hunting are required to be signed out, purpose of use stated, and the type of gun. I also feel the person requesting a permit should first be educated on the proper use, cleaning, and handling of a firearm. This would help to avoid any accidental shootings from occurring. They should be made aware of all the laws regarding the handling of firearms. To some this may seem severe. But as I stated earlier, these stricter laws do affect the difference between the U.S. and Europe in the amount of handgun related deaths. In these controversial issues about gun control, it is my opinion that the United States should have stricter gun obtaining laws. If a criminal was convicted for a gun related crime, he should be unable to purchase a gun.

Monica Lewinsky :: Essays Papers

Monica Lewinsky Monica Samille Lewinsky was born on July 23, 1973, the first child of Marcia and Bernard Lewinsky. She lived her entire childhood in Beverly Hills, California—home to the rich, famous, and beautiful. Pictures show Monica was a cute, chubby child. Childhood stories portray Monica as a stubborn, spoiled girl knowing exactly what she wanted and used to getting it; whether is was by throwing a tantrum or refusing to do anything until she got her way. At her aunts wedding she refused to go out as the flower girl until the sleeves were cut off from her dress and when it was time for her Bats-mitzvah she stomped, cried, and begged until she was given a huge party at a banquet hall instead of a small one in her back yard. Her father being a successful doctor, Monica and the family had little to want for. Although she was a main character in the impeachment scandal, I didn't know anything about her except being constantly told that she was overweight and "fat." She was central to the whole scandal and the confessions forced from her by Ken Starr and the Office of the Independent Council (OIC) have changed the way people think and talk about politics, sex, the presidency, and presidential responsibility. She brought evidence of a presidential affair and raised questions as to the true duty of the position as one of a moral leader or one of a country's manager. Monica Lewinsky has come to symbolize many things because of her involvement in the Clinton impeachment scandal. No doubt when people think about the famous intern they will think of the cigar, the dress, and oral sex in the oval office. They may think about how "that woman... Miss Lewinsky" was betrayed by Linda Tripp, how she was harassed by the press, or perhaps that she in love with the President of the United States. But above all when people are talking about Monica Lewinsky they will probably tell one of the many jokes about her weight and perhaps discuss her success/failure on losing weight, which has become the basis of their discourse. Monica and her involvement in the impeachment scandal have come to represent the reinforcement and legitimization of the North American view of female stereotypes. Not only has the press and entertainment industry contributed to the superficial treatment of Monica, but also the woman herself has focused on these traits/faults which are, in themselves, societal constructs.

Assignment on Annual Report

Assignment On Mercantile Bank Limited Annual Report for the year ended 31st December, 2009 Topics are to be discussed here (Context) 01. Letter to Transmittal 02. Notice of 11th Annual General Meeting 03. Mission, Vision & Objectives 04. MBL Timeline 05. Credit Rating 06. Sponsors of the Bank 07. Board of Directors 08. Corporate Structure 09. Management Team 10. Head Office & Branch Network 11. Where We Locate 12. Financial Summary 13. Economic Impact Report 14. Message from the Chairman 15. From the Desk of Managing Directors and CEO 16. Directors’ Report 17. Managing Directors and CEO’s Report on Risk Management 18. Report on Corporate Governance 19. Compliance Report on SEC Notification 20. Report of Audit Committee 21. Report on Corporate Social Responsibility 22. Report on Customer Service 23. Report on Human Capital 24. Recognition 25. Signing of Financial Statements 26. Auditors’ Report 27. Financial Statements 28. Notes to the Financial Statements 29. Annexure A-G 30. Highlights of Mercantile Bank Limited 1. Letter to Transmittal: Here the Executive Vice President and Company Secretary wrote a letter to all shareholders informing the important items of the Annual Report. Such as Balance Sheet, Income Statement, Cash Flow Statement of the year. 2. Notice of 11th Annual General Meeting: In the notice the date, year, day, time and place of the AGM clearly (in bold letter) described. Important Agenda also represented in the notice. There are 5 Agenda are mentioned. In addition 6 footer Notes also published here. Important notes are record date of the share (March 07, 2010), amount of dividend (22%) etc. Executive Vice President and Company Secretary give his signature with date. 3. Vision, Mission & Objectives: The Vision of the back is make finest corporate institution. Mission is making the make profitable by caring, equitable growth by required and proper distribution of recourses. Strategic Objectives: to positive Economic Value Added, market leader in product innovation, achieve cost efficiency, be in the top five financial institution in Bangladesh. Financial Objectives: to achieve stable (? 20%) return on shareholders’ equity. Moreover Core value for Customers, Shareholders, Employees and Community 4. MBL Timeline: Here the development of Mercantile Bank Limited stated. It started incorporation in business and commercialization in 1999. Circulated Primary Share (IPO) in 2003. Got listed in both Bangladesh Stock Exchanges (Dhaka & Chittagong) in 2004 and end of year 2009 it has 50 braches all over the country. 5. Credit Rating: As per Credit Rating and information Services Limited (CRISL), Mercantile Bank Limited rated as â€Å"A† (Pronounced as Single A) in the long term and ST-2 rating in the short term on the basis of Financial Statements as on December 31, 2008. High certainty of timely payments, strong liquidity factors, good company fundamentals, easy excess to capital market and minimal risk factors are the key issues of the rating. 6. Sponsors of the Bank: Here the 27 sponsors’ names with photos are representing clearly. 7. Board of Directors: 22 Directors’ name and photo with their designation stated here. There are 1 Chairman, 2 Vice Chairmen and 18 Directors and 1 Managing Director and CEO in the Bank managing committee. 8. Corporate Structure: In Corporate Structure there are 8 different government body represented. Including Board of Directors (22 persons), Executive Committee (18 persons), Audit Committee (3 persons), Managing Director & CEO (1 person), Chief Financial Officer (1 person), Company Secretary (1 person), Auditors (2 persons) and Tax Advisor (1 person). . Management Team: Here the detail list of different managing committee separately represented with their designation. There are 10 categories of designation. Such as Managing Director & CEO, Additional Managing Director, principal, Deputy Managing Director, Senior Executive Vice Presidents, Executive Vice Presidents, Senior Vice Presidents, Vice Preside nts, First Vice Presidents and Assistant Vice Presidents. 10. Head Office & Branch Network: Under this title the details addresses of bank’s all 50 banking branches, SME braches and Brokerage House with Phone, Mobile and Fax number given. 1. Where We Locate: Here the map of Bangladesh given and all 53 (3 SME/Agro Branches) branches marked by company’s logo under district wise. 12. Financial Summary: Under Financial Summary Company’s last 5 years Net Interest Margin (NIM), Profit after Tax, Return on Assets (ROA), Cost Income Ratio, Return on Equity (ROE), Operating Efficiency Ratio and in the last 8 years comparable company’s Income Statement, Balance Sheet, Foreign Exchange Business, BIS Capital Measure, Credit Quality, Share Information, Operating Performance Ratio and Other Information represented. 3. Economic Impact Report: Here Economic Impact described in two ways; Direct Impact and Indirect Impact. Direct Impact are employment opportunities, paymen t of tax to the government, increase value to the Shareholders. Indirect Impact created by catering financial services, Bank generated wealth in the economy and profit for itself which is ultimately distributed amongst the shareholders and other participants in different form. In 2009, total value added by MBL was BDT 2,559. 96 (millions) and direct contribution to the economy was BDT 855. 26 (millions). There are two value added statements (Economic and Market) showed by column chart. A pie chart showed for distribution of Value Addition (maximum for government tax 33. 4%). Bank added BDT 129. 5 (million) under Economic Value Addition and BDT 4229. 48 (million) under Market Value Addition. 14. Message from the Chairman: At the first of the message the Chairman invited Shareholders to the 11th Annual General Meeting. There are some topics the Chairman discussed briefly. Those are: World Economy in 2009: here the impact of sub-prime mortgages landslip discussed. Bangladesh Economy in 2009: here the benefit of growth Bangladesh economy in the particular year stated. Performance of the Bank in 2009: here the actual amount of bank’s deposits collection, loan and advance, import business, export business and foreign remittance described. Diversified Business Activities of the Bank: under this section the details activity of bank represented here. Such as Deposits, Loan and Advances, Import & Export Business and Inward Foreign Remittance. SME: here bank’s SME structure described. Card Business: here bank’s different card business represented. Such as Credit card, Debit Card, VISA dual prepaid card, VISA Dual Hajj Card. Described it’s features and services. Corporate Governance Practice: here the responsibilities and activities of Board of Directors to the business operation represented. CSR Programs: here the guideline of management of the bank informs the board on CSR activities and is responsible to implement a specific line of approving authority, control and monitoring for financial support of such activities. Customer Service: here the Chairman describe how the bank server to the customer for achieve highest customer satisfaction. Human Resources Development: here the promotion and intensives to the employees represented for their superior performance. Recognition and Award: here the different achievements and rewards stated that in 2009 the bank gets thorough out the year. Future Outlook: here the challenges and opportunities for the bank in upcoming years described thoroughly. Challenges in 2010: here the economic effect on the bank in year 2010 is represented. Such as global downturn, slower growth of exports and workers’ remittance etc. Acknowledgement: here the Chairman gives his thank you notes and committed a stable growth of back where shareholder can rely on. 15. From the Desk of Managing Directors and CEO: Here the CEO describes the banks’ situation in the year 2009. He also represented Bank’s performance during the year 2009, its prospects and potential challenges in 2010. Such as Positive Growth: A Step Further: describing here the growth of the bank during the year. Prospects in 2010: he describe the opportunity, hope for the bank in upcoming year. Reviewing Our Business in 2009: here the business operation during the year stated clearly. Assets and Liabilities Position, International Business, MBL’s Products and Services, MBL’s Card Business, Agro-Based Financing, SME Financing, Our Priorities, Operation, Customer Relationship, Technology, Human Capital Development, Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR), MBL Brokerage House, Mobile Banking, Commitment to Government, Base I-II Capital Accord, Anti Money Laundering, Network Expansion, Challenges in 2010, Our Preparation and Acknowledgement are the main topics he discussed. 6. Directors’ Report: The parts of the Director’s Report are World Economy, Bangladesh Economy (GDP, Inflation, Investment and Saving, Broad Money, Domestic Credit, Export, Import, Trade Balance, Remittance, Foreign Exchange Market, Prospect of Bangladesh Economy in 2010), Business Review (Deposit and Deposit Mix, Loan and Advance, Import Trade, Export Trade, Foreign Remittance, Treasury Operation and Fund Management, Earning Base in Assets, Asset Portfolio, Funding Structure, Capital, Statutory Reserve, Capital Adequacy, Number of Shareholders, Contribution to National Exchequer and Economy, Acquisition of IDLC Share, Purchase of Land, Branch Network, Board of Directors, Board and Committee Meeting, Corporate and Financial Reporting, External Auditors, Correspondence Relationship , R&D, Information Technology, Financial Products and Services, Different Deposit Products, Different Loan Products), Financial Review (Different Profit Incomes, Different Expenses, Different Tax, Dividend, EPS, O/E Ratio), Outlook 2010 and Acknowledgement are represented here. After that it repeated in Bengali Language. 17. Managing Directors and CEO’s Report on Risk Management: Here start with basic discussion on Risk Management. Such as Risk Management Realities, Approach, Oversight, Process etc. And later describe different types of Risk Management described with photo and tree table. Such as Credit Risk Management, Market Risk Management, Interest Rate Risk Management, Foreign Exchange Risk Management, Operational Risk Management, Internal Control and Compliance Risk Management, Equity Risk Management, Money Laundering Risk Management, Information Technology Risk Management, Liquidity Risk Management, Marketing Related Risk Management, Human Resource Related Risk Management etc. 18. Report on Corporate Governance: At first different names of Corporate Governance with responsibility and duty in the bank represented. Such as Board Of Directors, Board’s Supporting Committee, Management Committee, Control Environment Committee. Each of every committee are presented with meetings photo. 19. Compliance Report on SEC Notification: It is the notification issued by The Security and Exchange Commission for all listed companies in order to improve Corporate Governance on ‘Comply or Explain’ basis. There are three tables. First is Complied or Not Complied table. Only 3 rules are not complied by the bank among 43 rules which are under review. In second table the numbers with names of Directors attained Board Meeting during the year. And the last one is The Patter of Shareholding where shows the nos. and percentage of shares hold by Directors. 20. Report of Audit Committee: Here the name of Auditor with photo presented. And also some other topics such as composition of the Audit Committee, Role of the Audit Committee, Internal Control, Meetings, Financial Reporting, Internal Audit and Inspection, External Audit, Regulatory Compliance and Miscellaneous issues given here. 21. Report on Corporate Social Responsibility: Here the roles and responsibilities of the bank toward society described. In this section a table shows how much the bank contributed their profit to the society. The highest donation went to health sector. MBL has slogan to be the â€Å"Banglar Bank†. MBL has given different awards to different sectors. Photos and arenas are mentioned here. 22. Report on Customer Service: The importance of customer to the bank is presented here. Some core demands of customer are fulfilling by the back. Such as Bringing Mass and More people into the Banking net, Addressing Unique Needs of the Customers, Meeting Demand of Customers through Alternative Banking Channels, Response from the People etc. 23. Report on Human Capital: In this topic the process of giving service in effective manner the back took some steps such as Nursing the People with Utmost Care, Recruiting the Best People (bonus, promotion, recognition, training etc), Managing the people, Performance from the People etc. 24. Recognition: An award giving ceremony’s (ICAB Award-2008) photo given here. 25. Signing of Financial Statements: Here a photograph of Directors represented where they all present there for signing Financial Statements – 2009. 26. Auditors’ Report: At first Auditors declared those elements that they audited. Such as Balance Sheet, Profit and Loss account, Cash Flow Statement, Statement of Changes in Equity, Statements of Liquidity Analysis and Explanatory notes to Financial Statements. Also mention their responsibilities. In the auditor’s report they include Scope, Opinion (14 opinions), Auditors Firm Names, Auditor Signatures, Auditor Designation, Place and Date. 27. Financial Statements: In the Financial Statements there are 7 part of it. At first there is Balance Sheet (Classified Statement of all types of Assets and Liabilities), then Off-Balance Sheet Items (Contingent Liabilities and Other Commitments), Profit and Loss Account (Include all types of Incomes and Expenses, Provisions, Appropriations etc. , Cash Flow Statement (Net Cash Inflow and Outflow recorded here), Statement of Changes in Equity (Capital gain/reserve and losses/dividend), Liquidity Statement (assets and liabilities maturity analysis), Notes to the Financial Statements (details of financial statement such a s calculations, principals, disclosures etc). 28. Annexure A-G: In Annexure A all related asset’s depreciation charges calculated here, Annexure B described number of shares hold by Directors with their positions, Annexure C represented different Investment in Shares during the year. Annexure D stated market adjustment of approved Securities HTM and HFT shares. Annexure E mentioned maturity analysis of other assets (like as advanced deposits, stamps in hand etc. , Annexure F represented Compliance of BAS and BFRS (among 29 BAS 6 are not applied and among 4 BFRS none are applied), Annexure G provide Computation of Risk- Weighted Assets list. 29. Highlights of Mercantile Bank Limited: Here all necessary information towards the investors are presented here, such as paid-up capital, total assets, total deposits, ROA, ROI, EPS, NI per share, P/E Ratio etc. 30. Proxy Form: It is the application printed and provided by the firm to shareholders incase of his absence, shareholder can give voting power to his nominated person. Need to fill up the gaps and attach revenue stamps and send to the authority before particular date. It has two parts, one for office and other for shareholder. ————-END————–

Hitting a Baseball

It has been a proven fact that hitting a baseball is one of the toughest things to accomplish in sports. In the major leagues if you fail 7 out of 10 times you are still considered to be an incredibly good hitter. That statistic shows how challenging it is even for Athletes at the professional level to produce a perfect swing. In order to achieve this perfect swing there is a series of adjustments that must be made. In this essay I will show how hitting a baseball develops through 3 different stages of learning. When someone is first starting off usually around the ages of 7 to 9 , they do not understand that the way a bat is held effects the outcome of the swing. In the beginning process many tend to place the bat in their palm and grip it extremely tight, without aligning their knuckles. They do not realize that holding the bat this way will reduce the range of motion in the swing, causing slower bat speed. Another key component to hitting a baseball is the hitter’s stance. In the beginning stage many crowd the plate, with their toes pretty much touching the corner of the tip of the plate. The legs are extremely bent and the toes are pointing in two different directions. The hands are then placed right next to the ear with both elbows facing up. The hitters back is usually arched at the top, with their shoulders kinds of pushing in to the neck. As the ball is pitched the hitter does not take a step towards the pitch, instead they keep their feet planted on their heels. When the ball is getting closer they begin their swing by dropping the back elbow and lifting the front one up. As the bat begins to cross the plate the head begins to turn away from the ball, because they are using no hip action. The bat is stopped in front of their body, creating no follow through. There may be little or no contact at this point. As a hitter progresses around the middle school stage, one thing they begin to change is the way they grip the bat. Now that they are a little more informed they begin to align the knuckles and place the bat on the fingers instead of on the palm. The hitter now has more flexion in the wrist along them to better their chances of hitting the ball. The stance of the batter is now gradually changing as well. The batter is now able to get in a position to where they can feel a little more comfortable. The knees are just are just slightly bent still allowing them to have some mobility. The toes are both facing in the same direction but are still planted on their heels. The elbows are now facing down instead of up, and the hands are up just above the shoulders and away from the ears. The back is no longer arched and the hitter is now at a stance where they are not as stiff as they once were. As the pitch comes the hitter now takes a step forward to generate some force, and prepare for his swing to begin. As the pitch is coming the hitter now keeps his eyes on the ball as it is coming in and extends hit arms out toward the baseball but slightly drops the barrel of the bat because of this, the hitter might have a tendency to pop the ball up instead of hitting a solid line drive. At this point the swing has now gotten better but still it has not generated bat speed to its full potential. Once the collegiate level is reached the batter now understands all the key fundamentals to hitting a baseball. With many years of practice and execution the hitter’s swing is now at its perfect state making it much easier to create contact and power. At this point the hitter no longer has any difficulty with the grip of the bat, or stance. Their feet are at shoulder width length allowing them to be at their most powerful position. The hitter is on the balls of his or her feet and is no longer on the heels. As the pitch is coming the hitter shifts his weight from the front leg to the back leg. The hitter is creating negative force by taking a step back, then going forward once again. At this point, weight should be about 70 percent on the back leg, 30 percent on the front leg. This allows the hitter to stay on the back leg to generate the most amount of power possible as they are swinging. While this is happening the hitter must also shift his hand back to generate more power in the upper body as well. The next step is the key essential where many beginners go wrong when trying to hit a baseball. Many believe that the hands trigger the swing, but this is untrue. It is the explosion of the hip that creates the swing. The hips start to open and allow the hands to explode through the hitting zone at a much higher rate of speed than if the hands triggered first and were still inhibited by the body. This has been proven by some of the most respected hitting authorities in the world by using high speed motion detection software to analyze a hitter's swing. Once the hips have started to open, the hands shoot through the zone. The hitter drives the nob of the bat to the ball, and keeps the bat through the zone as long as possible. This makes it easier to hit the pitch no matter where it is thrown. Once the bat has made contact the hips naturally finish their rotation as the hands leave the hitting zone and follow through. The weight shifts forward into contact, and all of the steps come together into a fluid, quick swing. Now the batter can produce hard linedrives or homeruns instead of soft grounders or pop ups.

Aim in becoming an engineer and your Career

When we are young, one of those questions that we hear from almost every adult that we encounter, especially from those who work, is â€Å"What do you like to be when you grow up?† Remember that most may say, â€Å"I want to be this or that or like my mother or like my father and many other else†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Though we were young then, we are all starting to know the value of dream or career.If you’re asking for my plan or the same question as the adults ask in my first paragraph, I would answer you that I am now aiming to be an engineer or I want engineering to be my career. You may have different reactions when I say that but it is just a matter of choice and all of us are have that right.To be an engineer, I must study the prerequisites of entering college. First, I should finish my high school and then enroll in a university or college and acquire an engineering course, a mechanical, industrial or civil engineering may do.Anyway, engineers abide by a simple law and the only thing that makes each of them distinct from one another is the nature of the results. For example, chemical engineers end products are chemical products, electrical engineering are for electricity-related machines or equipments which work hand-in-hand with the mechanical engineers.Today, the engineering sector has many branches and each of them have their own expertise. After passing the course, I must take the licensure exam to be an engineer if it is needed. Otherwise, I will not be professionally called as engineer by my name or don’t have a title before my first name.What’s really special about being an engineer is having a wide knowledge and expertise on one specific thing I want. Knowing the in and out of that thing is really amazing. If a have a computer, as an engineer I will know its components, the materials used, software available for the unit and even the appropriate price so that the public will buy the computer.In short, engineers usually know every detail of something he or she is really interested about.Well, the knowledge I will gain is only one of the reasons why I aim to be an engineer. Another thing is really on their purpose in fulfilling their job. For me, engineers also are public servant and are not only confined with their commercial purposes.Though some may think that I want to be an engineer because it is well paid, well, think again. I know that we, in our career, always want to help others. Take a civil engineer for example. Most civil engineers are government employees.They are imparting their knowledge in construction to build hospitals, schools, bridges, gate arcs, government buildings and many other infrastructures that are of great use for us. If not for them, we cannot be assure that we are safe when crossing bridges or walking by parks or towers. If not for them, community development is not possible.Lastly, I believe that without them, each of them, every kind of them, society will be more of a bore . Basically, they give foundations of everything, almost everything that we saw in a society or a city in particular are works of science and art – or simply work of engineers. I may say that they are the builders of a civilization.Dreams are made mostly to guide us in our way of pursuing our life. The question, â€Å"What do I like to be when I grow up?† is a big start in shaping the life we want someday.Having a career in mind is really important so that we will now what all of our sufferings in life will bring us to. All we need to do is to focus our eyes in our aim – in my case, I should focus my eyes on my aim to become an engineer and do my best to make that my career.ReferencesReally†¦what IS an engineer? Retrieved July 1, 2007 from http://www.uhh.hawaii.edu/ academics/ub/news/learning/engineer05.phpEngineer, is it you? Retrieved July 1, 2007 from http://www.micron.com/ students/engineer/what.html

Ophelia Parker’s Moment with Chanel

They wore soft fur coats; shiny, ivory colored pearls upon their necks; slinky satin dresses; and carefully crafted leather high heeled shoes. These ere the rich and famous women of the Big Apple, the Broadway actresses, the wives of millionaires, or as I called them, the â€Å"Fur Coat Ladies. † They all exuded glamour, which l, Aphelia Parker, wanted more than anything. But instead of that, I got living in a middle class environment and going to a regular high school.But I was lucky enough to marry my high school sweetheart, James Richard Parker. We were madly in love, so it was pretty easy to convince him to save up enough money for a honeymoon in Paris, France. Honeymooning in Paris is exciting by itself, but I had no idea what amazing opportunity it had in store for me. On February 5, 1954, at around nine in the morning, I went on a walk by myself through town. Except this was not the town I usually walked through, for it was Paris, France.I was aware of the fact that Coc o Channel, also known as my role model, was holding her well anticipated comeback show in Paris that day. I wanted to get a ticket, but they were sold out. As I walked past the venue of the show, there were already many well-dressed people, most of them with cameras and notepads, hoping to sneak a peek at the new collection. And that was when I Molly FOX @02927528 saw her: the most glamorous woman in the world, the woman to whom I looked up the most, Coco Channel, was within walking distance of me.I was staring intensely at her impeccable outfit: a small, black wool hat, a glossy pair of pearl drop earrings that were matched up with an even glossier pearl necklace, a black and white tweed skirt suit, a silky black shirt, sheer black stockings, and carefully crafted leather high heeled shoes. I then saw her pointing at me and a feeling of fear quickly came over me. Immediately after that, Coco and a young man in a well-tailored suit walked over to me. The man asked me, in French, if I could model, and being fluent in French, I answered that I could.Coco and the man told me to come with them, and before I knew it, I was whisked into the magical world of fashion. The scenario that was occurring at Coco's show was that one of her models had abruptly fallen ill, and I was literally pulled from the streets to take her place. While standing nervously backstage, I was handed one of the most flawless outfits I had ever seen: a perfectly stitched Ana suit. It contained a box Jacket and pants; a matching Ana bootee made of cotton; a crisp, white button down shirt; and carefully crafted leather high heeled shoes.I was told not only that this is the outfit that I would be wearing onstage but that I would be the first model to walk across the runway! All I had to do was simply walk to the end of the runway, turn around, and walk backstage. That is exactly what I did when it was time to do so. I can still vividly remember the hot, bright stage light shining down on me as if it was the Sun, the licked-clack of the high heeled shoes on the smooth runway, and the feeling of hundreds of pairs of eyes fixated on me, a regular girl from the United States of America, modeling in Coco Channel's comeback show in Paris.After Coco gave me 400 Euros for filling in for the sick model, I resumed my honeymoon with James. When we got back to New York City, I went back to witnessing at an Italian restaurant, and he went back to work in construction. We eventually got teaching Jobs at our old high school, with James teaching mathematics and me teaching French. I was also the proud owner of a youth theater until I sold it in 1992, which was also the year I retired from teaching.Two of its biggest stars were my daughters, Betty and Sally, who both went on to be actresses on Broadway. James passed away yesterday morning in his sleep, and while going through his belongings, I discovered the pictures of our honeymoon, bringing me back to this experience. It made me realize t hat even though I never became a â€Å"Fur Coat Lady,† being the first model in Coco Channel's comeback show was Just as great in my opinion. Ophelia Parker’s Moment with Chanel These were the rich and famous women of the Big Apple, the Broadway actresses, the wives of millionaires, or as I called them, the â€Å"Fur Coat Ladies. † They all exuded glamour, which I, Aphelia Parker, wanted more than anything. But Instead of that, I got living In a middle class environment and going to a regular high school. But I was lucky enough to marry my high school sweetheart, James Richard Parker. We were madly In love, so It was pretty easy to convince him to save up enough money for a honeymoon in Paris, France. Honeymooning in Paris Is excellent by Itself, but I had no Idea what amazing opportunity it had in store for me.On February 5, 1954, at around nine in the morning, I went on a walk by myself through town. Except this was not the town I usually walked through, for it was Paris, France. I was aware of the fact that Coco Channel, also known as my role model, was holding her well anticipated comeback show in Paris that day. I wanted to get a ticket, but they were sold out. As I walked past the venue of the show, there were already any well-dressed people, most of them with cameras and notepads, hoping to sneak a peek at the new collection.And that was when I Molly saw her: the most glamorous woman In the world, the woman to whom I looked up the most, Coco Channel, was within walking distance of me. I was staring intensely at her impeccable outfit: a small, black wool hat, a glossy pair of pearl drop earrings that were matched up with an even glossier pearl necklace, a black and white tweed skirt suit, a silky black shirt, sheer black stockings, and carefully crafted leather high led shoes. I then saw her pointing at me and a feeling of fear quickly came over me. Immediately after that, Coco and a young man in a well-tailored suit walked over to me.The man asked me, in French, if I could model, and being fluent in French, I answered that I could. Coco and the man told me to come with them, and before I knew It, I was whisked Into the ma gical world of fashion. The scenario that was occurring at Cocas show was that one of her models had abruptly fallen Ill, and I was literally pulled from the streets to take her place. While tanning nervously backstage, I was handed one of the most flawless outfits I had ever seen: a perfectly stitched Ana suit. It contained a box jacket and pants; a crafted leather high heeled shoes.I was told not only that this is the outfit that I would be wearing onstage but that I would be the first model to walk across the runway! All I had to do was simply walk to the end of the runway, turn around, and walk backstage. That is exactly what I did when it was time to do so. I can still vividly remember the hot, bright stage light shining down on me as if it was the Sun, the illicit-clack of the high heeled shoes on the smooth runway, and the feeling of hundreds of pairs of eyes fixated on me, a regular girl from the United States of America, modeling in Coco Channel's comeback show in Paris. Af ter Coco gave me 400 Euros for filling in for the sick model, I resumed my honeymoon with James. When we got back to New York City, I went back to witnessing at an Italian restaurant, and he went back to work in construction. We eventually got teaching Jobs at our old high school, with James teaching mathematics ND me teaching French. I was also the proud owner of a youth theater until I sold it in 1992, which was also the year I retired from teaching.Two of its biggest stars were my daughters, Betty and Sally, who both went on to be actresses on Broadway. James passed away yesterday morning in his sleep, and while going through his belongings, I discovered the pictures of our honeymoon, bringing me back to this experience. It made me realize that even though I never became a â€Å"Fur Coat Lady,† being the first model in Coco Channel's comeback show was Just as great in my opinion.