Saturday, August 31, 2019

Impact of Twitter on Youth

Excellence is not an accomplishment. It is a spirit, a never-ending process. Lawrence M. Miller In order to develop excellence as a leader we must be willing to acknowledge that developing it is not an accomplishment – it's a never-ending process. It's a process full of many awesome moments and many lonely days. It's fun and exciting one day and then the next day we wonder why we ever wanted to lead in the first place. Many of us secretly fantasize about being a greeter at Walmart. Being a leader isn't easy – it requires commitment for the long haul.It's not something we can just accomplish and then move on. Being a leader requires hard work, sacrifice, commitment and a willingness to grow ourselves. The leaders I admire most are the ones who give selflessly of themselves and make personal development a priority. I can not give of myself as I leader if I do not first take care of myself. Great leaders balance personal development and organizational development. Both are important and one without the other does not work. As I have observed great leaders, I find they all have some things in common. Great companies first build a culture of disciplineand create a business model that fits squarely in the intersection of three circles: what they can be best in the world at, a deep understanding of their economic engine, and the core values they hold with deep passion. † ~ Jim Collins, author of Good To Great â€Å"We got it right when we said that we were in search of excellence. Not competitive advantage. Not economic growth. Not market dominance or strategic differentiation. Not maximized shareholder value.ExcellenceIn Search of Excellence even the title is a reminder that business isnt dry, dreary, boring, or by the numbers. † ~ @Tom Peters, author of In Search of Excellence Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but we rather have those because we have acted righ tly. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit. ~ Aristotle If you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you develop the habit in little matters. Excellence is not an exception, it is a prevailing attitude. ~ Colin Powell When a team outgrows individual performance and learns team confidence, excellence becomes a reality. ~ Coach Joe Paterno â€Å"Excellence is not an accomplishment. It is a spirit, a never-ending process. † ~ Lawrence M. Miller â€Å"The secret of joy in work is contained in one word – excellence. To know how to do something well is to enjoy it. † ~ Pearl Buck â€Å"Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren't used to an environment where excellence is expected. † ~ Steve Jobs â€Å"The quality of a person's life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor. ~ Vince Lombardi â€Å"My parents always told me that people will never know ho w long it takes you to do something. They will only know how well it is done. † ~ Nancy Hanks â€Å"With regard to excellence, it is not enough to know, but we must try to have and use it. † ~ Aristotle â€Å"Sports serve society by providing vivid examples of excellence. † ~ George F. Will â€Å"Excellence is to do a common thing in an uncommon way. † ~ Booker T. Washington â€Å"The noblest search†¦ is the search for excellence. † ~ Lyndon Baines Johnson

Friday, August 30, 2019

The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening Chapter Seven

Bonnie was on the dance floor, eyes shut, letting the music flow through her. When she opened her eyes for an instant, Meredith was beckoning from the sidelines. Bonnie thrust her chin out mutinously, but as the gestures became more insistent she rolled her eyes up at Raymond and obeyed. Raymond followed. Matt and Ed were behind Meredith. Matt was scowling. Ed was looking uncomfortable. â€Å"Elena just left,† said Meredith. â€Å"It's a free country,† said Bonnie. â€Å"She went with Tyler Smallwood,† said Meredith. â€Å"Matt, are you sure you didn't hear where they were going?† Matt shook his head. â€Å"I'd say she deserves whatever happens-but it's my fault, too, in a way,† he said bleakly. â€Å"I guess we ought to go after her.† â€Å"Leave thedance ?† Bonnie said. She looked at Meredith, who mouthed the wordsyou promised . â€Å"I don't believe this,† she muttered savagely. â€Å"I don't know how we'll find her,† said Meredith, â€Å"but we've got to try.† Then she added, in a strangely hesitant voice, â€Å"Bonnie,you don't happen to know where she is, do you?† â€Å"What? No, of course not; I've been dancing. You've heard of that, haven't you: what you go to a dance for?† â€Å"You and Ray stay here,† Matt said to Ed. â€Å"If she comes back, tell her we're out looking.† â€Å"And if we're going, we'd better go now,† Bonnie put in ungraciously. She turned and promptly ran into a dark blazer. â€Å"Well, excuse me,† she snapped, looking up and seeing Stefan Salvatore. He said nothing as she and Meredith and Matt headed for the door, leaving an unhappy-looking Raymond and Ed behind. The stars were distant and ice-bright in the cloudless sky. Elena felt just like them. Part of her was laughing and shouting with Dick and Vickie and Tyler over the roar of the wind, but part of her was watching from far away. Tyler parked halfway up the hill to the ruined church, leaving his headlights on as they all got out. Although there had been several cars behind them when they left the school, they appeared to be the only ones who'd made it all the way to the cemetery. Tyler opened the trunk and pulled out a six-pack. â€Å"All the more for us.† He offered a beer to Elena, who shook her head, trying to ignore the sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. She felt all wrong being here-but there was no way she was going to admit that now. They climbed the flagstone path, the girls staggering in their high heels and leaning on the boys. When they reached the top, Elena gasped and Vickie gave a little scream. Something huge and red was hovering just above the horizon. It took Elena a moment to realize it was actually the moon. It was as large and unrealistic as a prop in a science-fiction movie, and its bloated mass glowed dully with an unwholesome light. â€Å"Like a big rotten pumpkin,† said Tyler, and lobbed a stone at it. Elena made herself smile brilliantly up at him. â€Å"Why don't we go inside?† Vickie said, pointing a white hand at the empty hole of the church doorway. Most of the roof had fallen in, although the belfry was still intact, a tower stretching up high above them. Three of the walls were standing; the fourth was only knee-high. There were piles of rubble everywhere. A light flared by Elena's cheek, and she turned, startled, to see Tyler holding a lighter. He grinned, showing strong white teeth, and said, â€Å"Want to flick my Bic?† Elena's laughter was the loudest, to cover her uneasiness. She took the lighter, using it to illuminate the tomb in the side of the church. It was like no other tomb in the cemetery, although her father said he'd seen similar things in England. It looked like a large stone box, big enough for two people, with two marble statues lying in repose on the lid. â€Å"Thomas Keeping Fell and Honoria Fell,† said Tyler with a grand gesture, as if introducing them. â€Å"Old Thomas allegedly founded Fell's Church. Although actually the Smallwoods were also there at the time. My great-grandfather's great-great-grandfather lived in the valley by Drowning Creek-† â€Å"-until he got eaten by wolves,† said Dick, and he threw back his head in a wolf imitation. Then he belched. Vickie giggled. Annoyance crossed Tyler's handsome features, but he forced a smile. â€Å"Thomas and Honoria are looking kind of pale,† said Vickie, still giggling. â€Å"I think what they need is a little color.† She produced a lipstick from her purse and began to coat the white marble mouth of the woman's statue with waxy scarlet. Elena felt another sick twinge. As a child, she'd always been awed by the pale lady and the grave man who lay with their eyes closed, hands folded on their breasts. And, after her parents died, she'd thought of them as lying side by side like this down in the cemetery. But she held the lighter while the other girl put a lipstick mustache and clown's nose on Thomas Fell. Tyler was watching them. â€Å"Hey, they're all dressed up with no place to go.† He put his hands on the edge of the stone lid and leaned on it, trying to shift it sideways. â€Å"What do you say, Dick-want to give them a night out on the town? Like maybe right in the center of town?† No, thought Elena, appalled, as Dick guffawed and Vickie shrieked with laughter. But Dick was already beside Tyler, getting braced and ready, the heels of his hands on the stone lid. â€Å"On three,† said Tyler, and counted, â€Å"One, two,three .† Elena's eyes were fixed on the horrible clown-like face of Thomas Fell as the boys strained forward and grunted, muscles bunching under cloth. They couldn't budge the lid an inch. â€Å"Damn thing must be attached somehow,† said Tyler angrily, turning away. Elena felt weak with relief. Trying to seem casual, she leaned against the stone lid of the tomb for support-and that was when it happened. She heard the grinding of stone and felt the lid shift under her left hand all at once. It was moving away from her, making her lose her balance. The lighter went flying, and she screamed and screamed again, trying to keep her feet. She was falling into the open tomb, and an icy wind roared all around her. Screams rang in her ears. And then she was outside and the moonlight was bright enough that she could see the others. Tyler had hold of her. She stared around her wildly. â€Å"Are you crazy? What happened?† Tyler was shaking her. â€Å"It moved! The lid moved! It slid open and-I don't know-I almost fell in. It was cold†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The boys were laughing. â€Å"Poor baby's got the jitters,† Tyler said. â€Å"C'mon, Dicky-boy, we'll check it out.† â€Å"Tyler, no-â€Å" But they went inside anyway. Vickie hung in the doorway, watching, while Elena shivered. Presently, Tyler beckoned her from the door. â€Å"Look,† he said when she reluctantly stepped back inside. He'd retrieved the lighter, and he held it above Thomas Fell's marble chest. â€Å"It still fits, snug as a bug in a rug. See?† Elena stared down at the perfect alignment of lid and tomb. â€Å"It did move. I nearly fell into it†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Sure, whatever you say, baby.† Tyler wound his arms around her, clasping her to him backwards. She looked over to see Dick and Vickie in much the same position, except that Vickie, eyes shut, was looking as if she enjoyed it. Tyler rubbed a strong chin over her hair. â€Å"I'd like to go back to the dance now,† she said flatly. There was a pause in the rubbing. Then Tyler sighed and said, â€Å"Sure, baby.† He looked at Dick and Vickie. â€Å"What about you two?† Dick grinned. â€Å"We'll just stay here a while.† Vickie giggled, her eyes still shut. â€Å"Okay.† Elena wondered how they were going to get back, but she allowed Tyler to lead her out. Once outside, however, he paused. â€Å"I can't let you go without one look at my grandfather's headstone,† he said. â€Å"Aw, c'mon, Elena,† he said as she started to protest, â€Å"don't hurt my feelings. You've got to see it; it's the family pride and joy.† Elena made herself smile, although her stomach felt like ice. Maybe if she humored him, he would get her out of here. â€Å"All right,† she said, and started toward the cemetery. â€Å"Not that way. This way.† And the next moment, he was leading her down toward the old graveyard. â€Å"It's okay, honest, it's not far off the path. Look, there, you see?† He pointed to something that shone in the moonlight. Elena gasped, muscles tightening around her heart. It looked like a person standing there, a giant with a round hairless head. And she didn't like being here at all, among the worn and leaning granite stones of centuries past. The bright moonlight cast strange shadows, and there were pools of impenetrable darkness everywhere. â€Å"It's just the ball on top. Nothing to be scared of,† said Tyler, pulling her with him off the path and up to the shining headstone. It was made of red marble, and the huge ball that surmounted it reminded her of the bloated moon on the horizon. Now that same moon shone down on them, as white as Thomas Fell's white hands. Elena couldn't contain her shivering. â€Å"Poor baby, she's cold. Got to get her warned up,† said Tyler. Elena tried to push him away, but he was too strong, wrapping her in his arms, pulling her against him. â€Å"Tyler, I want to go; I want to go rightnow . †¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Sure, baby, we'll go,† he said. â€Å"But we've got to get you warm first. Gosh, you're cold.† † Tyler, stop,† she said. His arms around her had merely been annoying, restricting, but now with a sense of shock she felt his hands on her body, groping for bare skin. Never in her life had Elena been in a situation like this, far away from any help. She aimed a spiked heel for his patent-leather instep, but he evaded her. â€Å"Tyler,take your hands off me .† â€Å"C'mon, Elena, don't be like that, I just want to warm you up all over†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Tyler, let go,† she choked out. She tried to wrench herself away from him. Tyler stumbled, and then his full weight was on her, crushing her into the tangle of ivy and weeds on the ground. Elena spoke desperately. â€Å"I'll kill you, Tyler. I mean it.Get off me .† Tyler tried to roll off, giggling suddenly, his limbs heavy and uncoordinated, almost useless. â€Å"Aw, c'mon, Elena, don' be mad. I was jus' warmin' you up. Elena the Ice Princess, warmin' up†¦ You're gettin' warm now, aren' you?† Then Elena felt his mouth hot andwet on her face. She was still pinned beneath him, and his sloppy kisses were moving down her throat. She heard cloth tear. â€Å"Oops,† Tyler mumbled. â€Å"Sorry 'bout that.† Elena twisted her head, and her mouth met Tyler's hand, clumsily caressing her cheek. She bit it, sinking her teeth into the fleshy palm. She bithard , tasting blood, hearing Tyler's agonized yowl. The hand jerked away. â€Å"Hey! I said I was sorry!† Tyler looked aggrievedly at his maimed hand. Then his face darkened, as, still staring at it, he clenched the hand into a fist. This is it, Elena thought with nightmare calmness. He's either going to knock me out or kill me. She braced herself for the blow. Stefan had resisted coming into the cemetery; everything within him had cried out against it. The last time he'd been here had been the night of the old man. Horror shifted through his gut again at the memory. He would have sworn that he had not drained the man under the bridge, that he had not taken enough blood to do harm. But everything that night after the surge of Power was muddled, confused. If therehad been a surge of Power at all. Perhaps that had been his own imagination, or even his own doing. Strange things could happen when the need got out of control. He shut his eyes. When he'd heard that the old man was hospitalized, near death, his shock had been beyond words. Howcould he have let himself get so far out of hand? To kill, almost, when he had not killed since†¦ He wouldn't let himself think about that. Now, standing in front of the cemetery gate in the midnight darkness, he wanted nothing so much as to turn around and go away. Go back to the dance where he'd left Caroline, that supple, sun-bronzed creature who was absolutely safe because she meant absolutely nothing to him. But he couldn't go back, because Elena was in the cemetery. He could sense her, and sense her rising distress. Elena was in the cemetery and in trouble, and he had to find her. He was halfway up the hill when the dizziness hit. It sent him reeling, struggling on toward the church because it was the only thing he could keep in focus. Gray waves of fog swept through his brain, and he fought to keep moving. Weak, he felt so weak. And helpless against the sheer power of this vertigo. He needed†¦ to go to Elena. But he was weak. He couldn't be†¦ weak†¦ if he were to help Elena. He needed†¦ to†¦ The church door yawned before him. Elena saw the moon over Tyler's left shoulder. It was strangely fitting that it would be the last thing she ever saw, she thought. The scream had caught in her throat, choked off by fear. And then something picked Tyler up and threw him against his grandfather's headstone. That was what it looked like to Elena. She rolled to the side, gasping, one hand clutching her torn dress, the other groping for a weapon. She didn't need one. Something moved in the darkness, and she saw the person who had plucked Tyler off her. Stefan Salvatore. But it was a Stefan she had never seen before: that fine-featured face was white and cold with fury, and there was a killing light in those green eyes. Without even moving, Stefan emanated such anger and menace that Elena found herself more frightened of him than she had been of Tyler. â€Å"When I first met you, I knew you'd never learned any manners,† said Stefan. His voice was soft and cold and light, and somehow it made Elena dizzy. She couldn't take her eyes off him as he moved toward Tyler, who was shaking his head dazedly and starting to get up. Stefan moved like a dancer, every movement easy and precisely controlled. â€Å"But I had no idea that your character was quite so underdeveloped.† He hit Tyler. The larger boy had been reaching out one beefy hand, and Stefan hit him almost negligently on the side of the face, before the hand made contact. Tyler flew against another headstone. He scrambled up and stood panting, his eyes showing white. Elena saw a trickle of blood from his nose. Then he charged. â€Å"A gentleman doesn't force his company on anyone,† said Stefan, and knocked him aside. Tyler went sprawling again, facedown in the weeds and briars. This time he was slower in getting up, and blood flowed from both nostrils and from his mouth. He was blowing like a frightened horse as he threw himself at Stefan. Stefan grabbed the front of Tyler's jacket, whirling them both around and absorbing the impact of the murderous rush. He shook Tyler twice, hard, while those big beefy fists windmilled around him, unable to connect. Then he let Tyler drop. â€Å"He doesn't insult a woman,† he said. Tyler's face was contorted, his eyes rolling, but he grabbed for Stefan's leg. Stefan jerked him to his feet and shook him again, and Tyler went limp as a rag doll, his eyes rolling up. Stefan went on speaking, holding the heavy body upright and punctuating every word with a bone-wrenching shake. â€Å"And, above all, he doesnot hurt her†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Stefan!† Elena cried. Tyler's head was snapping back and forth with every shake. She was frightened of what she was seeing; frightened of what Stefan might do. And frightened above all else of Stefan's voice, that cold voice that was like a rapier dancing, beautiful and deadly and utterly merciless. â€Å"Stefan,stop .† His head jerked toward her, startled, as if he had forgotten her presence. For a moment he looked at her without recognition, his eyes black in the moonlight, and she thought of some predator, some great bird or sleek carnivore incapable of human emotion. Then understanding came to his face and some of the darkness faded from his gaze. He looked down at Tyler's lolling head, then set him gently against the red marble tombstone. Tyler's knees buckled and he slid down the face of it, but to Elena's relief his eyes opened-or at least the left one did. The right was swelling to a slit. â€Å"He'll be all right,† said Stefan emptily. As her fear ebbed, Elena felt empty herself. Shock, she thought. I'm in shock. I'll probably start screaming hysterically any minute now. â€Å"Is there someone to take you home?† said Stefan, still in that chillingly deadened voice. Elena thought of Dick and Vickie, doing God knew what beside Thomas Fell's statue. â€Å"No,† she said. Her mind was beginning to work again, to take notice of things around her. The violet dress was ripped all the way down the front; it was ruined. Mechanically, she pulled it together over her slip. â€Å"I'll drive you,† said Stefan. Even through the numbness, Elena felt a quick thrill of fear. She looked at him, a strangely elegant figure among the tombstones, his face pale in the moonlight. He had never looked so†¦ sobeautiful to her before, but that beauty was almost alien. Not just foreign, but inhuman, because no human could project that aura of power, or of distance. â€Å"Thank you. That would be very kind,† she said slowly. There was nothing else to do. They left Tyler painfully getting to his feet by his ancestor's headstone. Elena felt another chill as they reached the path and Stefan turned toward Wickery Bridge. â€Å"I left my car at the boarding house,† he said. â€Å"This is the fastest way for us to get back.† â€Å"Is this the way you came?† â€Å"No. I didn't cross the bridge. But it'll be safe.† Elena believed him. Pale and silent, he walked beside her without touching, except when he took off his blazer to put it around her bare shoulders. She felt oddly sure he would kill anything that tried to get at her. Wickery Bridge was white in the moonlight, and under it the icy waters swirled over ancient rocks. The whole world was still and beautiful and cold as they walked through the oak trees to the narrow country road. They passed fenced pastures and dark fields until they reached a long winding drive. The boarding house was a vast building of rust-red brick made from the native clay, and it was flanked with age-old cedars and maples. All but one of the windows were dark. Stefan unlocked one of the double doors and they stepped into a small hallway, with a flight of stairs directly in front of them. The banister, like the doors, was natural light oak so polished that it seemed to glow. They went up the stairs to a second-story landing that was poorly lit. To Elena's surprise, Stefan led her into one of the bedrooms and opened what looked like a closet door. Through it she could see a very steep, very narrow stairway. What a strange place, she thought. This hidden stairway buried deep in the heart of the house, where no sound from outside could penetrate. She reached the top of the stairs and stepped out into a large room that made up the whole third story of the house. It was almost as dimly lit as the stairway, but Elena could see the stained wood floor and the exposed beams in the slanting ceiling. There were tall windows on all sides, and many trunks scattered among a few pieces of massive furniture. She realized he was watching her. â€Å"Is there a bathroom where I-?† He nodded toward a door. She took off the blazer, held it toward him without looking at him, and went inside.

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Management Accounting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 7

Management Accounting - Essay Example On the other hand, there are those who view budgeting as one of the major impediments of the process of goal achievement. Marcino (2000) as well as Jensen (2001) are key advocates of this theorem. The two argue that the allocation of resources within an organization is to large extent being hindered by the various budgetary processes adopted by the various organizations. â€Å"Myopic decision making and other dysfunctional budget games† are cited to be some of the reasons why achieving these budgets becomes difficult and even where achieved, there is little difference that can be attributed to it. Bergstrand and Olve (1996) defined budgeting as the traditional way of managing and controlling companies. Companies use the budget to plan and coordinate for the preceding financial period. Some of the main objectives of the budgetary process include resource allocation, employee motivation and operations coordination. It also helps in the evaluation of performance (Libby and Lindsay 2003). Looking at all this therefore the budgetary process has for a long time been used for the same reason, and thus the majority of the organizations has resulted in using the same traditional budgetary processes over and over again. The traditional budgetary process has resulted so different problems in various organizations including but not limited to top down command orientation issues as well as poor planning and performance evaluation processes. While doing their research Neely et al. (2001) identified a number of budgetary weaknesses that were associated with the majority of the traditional budgets. Some of them includes the time consuming nature of the budgetary processes, constrain responsiveness and the most common barrier to change, lack of focus and presences of contradictions, the over emphasis on cost reduction with less focus on value, infrequent budget development and updating, improper preparation of the underlying assumptions and their inability to reflect

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Free Speech and Its Limits Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Free Speech and Its Limits - Case Study Example The history of broadcasting in this country began when all radio stations were publicly owned by controlling the public's ownership of the airwaves. Stations were licensed to use a given frequency and were deemed to be a public service. In return for the use of the airwaves, the station had a responsibility to provide news and information that was in the public interest and promoted the public good. This gave rise to the 'Public Service Announcement' and the concept of 'equal time' for political candidates. However, with the privatization of the airwaves by big media concerns, these historical concepts have given way to entertainment and agendas. Within the framework of legality and decency there should be no limits to free speech in the media. Technology has made radio, television, and the Internet more accessible to consumers as well as content providers. This proliferation has caused our society, culture, politics, and government to become enmeshed and inseparable. If we rid our media of politics, we will not have a forum to discuss our most important social and cultural issues. Free speech was granted as a way to air our differences and find common ground. It protects us from tyranny and oppression and reduces the suppression of the minority viewpoint. The mayor of Port Arthur

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Human Resource procedures Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Human Resource procedures - Assignment Example Responding to this phenomenon, the tutor who is responsible for the Human Resource Management course of Swinburne University has tried to teach students in regard to both the theoretical and practical aspects of HR activities and processes. A series of tasks has been developed within the classroom for helping the students to understand the nature of HR procedures and their contribution in practicing HR activities. The Classroom activities related to the above course are presented below. The literature published in this field has been also employed for explaining the value of HR procedures and the challenges that a person who aims to work in this area is expected to face. Section A - HR procedures used in practicing HR activities HR procedures – overview HR procedures are partially standardized. This means that the forms of HR procedures used worldwide tend to be similar, based on frameworks and principles that have only minor differences. There is no specific definition in reg ard to HR processes. Rather, the role and the characteristics of these processes can be understood by checking their position in the context of HR management. The HR management, as a concept, has a series of functions, which are divided into categories, such as ‘political, environmental, social and so on’ (Mathis and Jackson 2010, p.6). ... Selection process The selection process has a vital role: it aims to identify the level at which a candidate is appropriate for a particular role, i.e. whether the candidate meets the requirements of a position, as these requirements have been already set using the Job Analysis Process (Armstrong 2012). The success of the selection process is depended on the effectiveness of the schemes chosen for developing the above process. Interviews are commonly used as a tool for selecting employees (Armstrong 2012). Interviews have been related to a series of advantages: a) the interviewer has the chance for a face-to-face discussion with the candidate, a condition that it is necessary in order to check the candidate’s perceptions in regard to a series of issues and to understand his readiness to identify solutions for emergent problems, as these problems can be set, as examples, by the interviewer (Armstrong 2012); b) through the interview the interviewer is able to check whether the c andidate would fit in the business environment and in the position to which the interview refers (Armstrong 2012), c) during the interview the candidate has the chance to set questions in regard to the organizational environment and the characteristics/ demands of the particular position (Armstrong 2012). However, the interview has also certain disadvantages, such as the excessive dependency on the interviewer’s skills and the risk of developing false impression for the suitability of a candidate for a specific position (Armstrong 2012). The risks to which interviews are exposed could be minimized by using structured interviews, i.e. ‘interviews based on a defined framework’ (Armstrong 2012, p.230). It should be noted that in each

Monday, August 26, 2019

International Politics on the World Stage Essay

International Politics on the World Stage - Essay Example The Iranian President's victory also a hardliner seems to reflect on my theory that what US seems to do is rather being counter productive and is winning more supporters for these hardliners. The Muslim brotherhoods popularity and victory is another example of the growing challenges. As theory in governance for the Middle East clearly shows that not one of the Middle Eastern states except Turkey and Israel is democratically ruled. The mode of extremism started right after the soviets invaded Afghanistan and the Americans led by the CIA in collaboration with states such as Pakistan and various warlords labeled the conflict as jihad calling on the Muslims who wished to fight for the new world a fight against the evil they said was communism. As the soviets were defeated and retreated in 1988 and as the Americans left these people who were religiously fervent began to settle in these areas branding their own version of Islam by enforcing the Shariah law. These people with weapons began to settle in their respective countries countering threats from their various governments, with no democracy in these middle eastern states new recruits seemed to fill in to these camps as unemployment and poverty was on the rise while as they saw the Americans as the enemy who had occupied the holy land of Mecca led by a Saudi billionaire fugitive who fought alongside the CIA before launched a whole scale war against the Americans in general leading to first the blowing up of US embassies to USS Cole disaster to the September 11 terror attacks on new York and Washington. What we see is a world where various circles claim it to be a clash of civilization where the ever growing insurgent activities in Iraq and other parts of the create an unholy environment for the Muslims in general. The Palestinian conflict remains the bone of contention between the west and not only amongst the Islamic Middle Eastern nations but the whole Islamic world to. The inhabitance of Israel of evacuating t he land it occupied in 1967 war and to a two state solution where the Palestinians and Israelis can live peacefully side by side is a distant dream away as Israelis refuse to give up control over Jerusalem which is sacred to both parties. While under patronage of UN a solution can be formed which can be acceptable to both parties where the Israelis have to leave the settlements in the west bank, while having the joint custody of Jerusalem under a UN peacekeeping umbrella guarding the new frontier laid between the leaning wall and the Al-Aqsa mosque. UNs incapability in solving the international conflicts fuelling in Palestine, Kashmir and Chechnya seems to give a rise in extremist activity as they see no hope from this world body to make a decision for their regard. Except for passing resolutions accustomed on a piece of paper this body hasn't taken any constructive decision in solving any of the conflicts regard. While the importance will be restored once as UN takes proactive measures in countering these tactics by ensuring that no innocent person is harmed especially by state form of terrorism which in return gives rise to a struggle with the force of the gun labeled as terrorism in the west as the person affected

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Teva and Sandoz court case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Teva and Sandoz court - Case Study Example eral Rule of Civil Procedure 52 (a) (6), the Court of appeals ‘must not..set aside ‘a district court’s findings of fact unless that are clearly erroneous. In the case of Anderson v. Bessemer City, 470 U.S 564, 574, the case does not make any exceptions or exclude any category of facts from the appeals’ obligation. The rule is applicable to both ultimate and subsidiary facts and thus district court sitting without a jury should not decide factual issues de novo. In the case of Markman V. Westview Instruments Inc, 517 U.S 370, the court held that the ultimate question of claim construction is for the judge and not the jury and thus it did not set up an exception from the ordinary rule on appellate review of factual matters. The ‘clear error’ is thus important as the district court that has listened to the case has a better opportunity to gain ‘familiarity’ with the scientific principles or problems. Sandoz argued that separating ‘factual’ from ‘legal’ questions may be difficult and thus it was simpler for the appellate court to review the entire district court’s claim construction de novo that apply the two separate standards. However, the courts have been able to separate the factual from legal matters as evidenced in the case of Options of Chicago Inc v Kaplan, 514 U.S 938. The Supreme Court in a 7-2 majority held when reviewing District’s Court resolution of subsidiary factual matters made in the course of construction of the patent claim, the Federal Circuit must apply a ‘clear error’ and not the de novo standard of review. Justice Stephen Breyer outlined that Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 52 (a) (6) established the ‘clear erroneous’ standard without any exceptions and thus it was not necessary to create an exception to the standard in the case. The court pointed that construction of patent claim is a factual determination and thus must be guided by well-established standards. According to the judgment, an appellate court

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Leadership and battle strategy in the Persian War Essay

Leadership and battle strategy in the Persian War - Essay Example The thesis statement encompassing this paper is the "leadership and battle strategies in Persian Wars". The Persian wars started with a series of battles within the Greek states, predominantly on the part of Persia against several Greek cities in view of the Persian King's strategy of expanding his kingdom and rule. The Persians waged a war against the Athens and Erectia because of the support these states provided to Ionians and other Greek cities in their fight against Persia. The Persian leader at that time was King Darius I, the Great King of Persia who succeeded in seizing control of almost all the Greek states other than the Athens and Strata (Pomeroy 187-188). The preeminent of all the battles fought in the Persian war was the Battle of Marathon in 490 BC that shaped the destiny of Greek empire. This war not only determined the extent of influence exerted by Persia or Athens politically, but also the prevalence of democracy in Greece. The history of Greece would certainly have been different had the Persians won the battle of Marathon against the Athenians. The Athenians were not as strong as Persians with regard to the infantry, war resources and weapons. The Persians were great in number as compared to the Persians, but were endowed with war discipline and an effective military system along with an efficient leadership. Weir propounds that the strategy Greeks employed in their war with Persians was to evoke insurgency among the people who were inside the Persian Empire so as to subvert their strength. The Athenian commander, Miltiades, had also once remained a Persian commander who betrayed the King of Persia. The Greeks, at that time, also excogitated an effective military system that enabled their soldiers to move about the narrow mountains swiftly. They had also developed in terms of weapons, shields and armors that were used by the fighters in the course of war. The primary weapons that the Greek army mostly carried were spears while short swords were also kept as secondary weapons of war (11). The use of traitors in a battle against the enemy seems to be the most eminent strategy engaged by leaders even in the ancient Greece. Miltiades who once happened to be a tyrant in Greek states and also a commander of Persian army, joined hands with Athenians after his partition with the King of Persia. He proved to be one of the prominent leaders in the series of Persian wars who played an effective role in motivating the Athenians to drive the Persians out of the state. When faced with the dilemma of attacking the powerful Persian army, the Athenian leaders had different opinions as to risk a fight or not. Some leaders were in favor of fighting the Persians in an open attack while others were reluctant of taking the risk. The thing that was at stake was not only the lives of Athenians, but also more importantly, the emerging democracy that had the ability to free the Greek world from the claws of tyranny. Miltiades, who was strongly against the Persians, incited the commanders to attack the Persian infantry so as to defend the democracy of Athens (Weir 10). Miltiades also persuaded the other Athenian leaders to go in the favor of attack in order to save Athens from the tyrannical rule of the King Darius as in Persia. Persians had to confront the two strongest opponents of all the Greek States viz. Athens and Strata as a consequence of attacking Athens. Darius, the Great

Staffing Organizations-Part 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Staffing Organizations-Part 2 - Essay Example The Gourmet Coffee Shop is a small organization and does not have the budget or staff to run its own staffing purposes and? therefore? an outside recruitment group can give the coffee shop with a full level of service? For example these agencies can help in advertising, identifying recruitment needs, along with background checks, examining the references of candidates etc. Using external recruitment agencies can be a little expensive, but on the other hand? it is the most sensible decision for company that does not have its own recruitment purpose. A recruitment financial plan will be formulated, which would include the staffing price, equipment and supplies cost along with salaries and benefits. After the recruiting and organizing period is complete, the next strategy of the coffee shop will be to choose â€Å"targeted versus open recruitment†, as the business is seeking particular individuals with certain, skills, knowledge, capacity and other features. Utilizing the open re cruitment method will entail a high quantity of candidates making the selection procedure exceptionally difficult. 2. Create a Communication Message (Realistic, Brand or Targeted) to Attract Applicants to the Open Position. When creating a communication message, it needs to be focused on being attractive and appealing to the target applicants. The main goal here is to capture the attention of potential applicants. Once this is achieved, the next step is to maintain their attention. This stage consists of the communication medium and message notifying the vacancy of jobs. â€Å"The   communication   process   consists   of   a   message   being   sent   and   received.  The message maybe verbal or non-verbal.   The   same   basic   principles   apply   whether   humans,   animals,   other   forms of   life,   or   combinations   of   these   are   involved† (The Communication Process, n.d. par.1). The message can be reali stic, targeted or branded. The medium for distribution can be a job posting, potential supervisors and peers? and extra written documents. These messages have to be expressed through some medium to the recipient. It is necessary that this message should be recognized by the recipient in the same meaning as intended by the sender. He or she must react in a time structure. Therefore, the communication is a two way method and is incomplete without a feedback from the receiver to the correspondent on how well the message is decoded by him. 3. Select the Communication Medium for the Recruitment Effort and Explain why that Method was Chosen Over Others. Communication can happen through several mediums. These mediums are assembled into four main types, which are verbal, written, visual communications and nonverbal. Whereas a number of mediums of communication, for instance talking, are much clearer than others, such as body language, every medium is significant for communication among peop le. In this case the select physical media. Physical media refers to a channel where the individual who is talking can be heard and seen by the viewers. The entire point here is to be capable of not only hearing the messages but also to watching and interpreting the body language. This does not require being two-way channels. In certain conditions the receiver expects physical communication. â€Å"If a message is perceived as important to the receiver they expect to hear it live from their

Friday, August 23, 2019

Performance management in the U.A.E (advantages and disadvantages) Assignment

Performance management in the U.A.E (advantages and disadvantages) - Assignment Example (web US Office of personal management) Following are the details of each step in the cycle followed in USA (web - US Office of personal management):- Planning. In an effective organization, work is planned out in advance. Planning means setting performance expectations and goals for groups and individuals to channel their efforts toward achieving organizational objectives. Getting employees involved in the planning process will help them understand the goals of the organization, what needs to be done, why it needs to be done, and how well it should be done. The regulatory requirements for planning employees' performance include establishing the elements and standards of their performance appraisal plans. Performance elements and standards should be measurable, understandable, verifiable, equitable, and achievable. Through critical elements, employees are held accountable as individuals for work assignments or responsibilities. Employee performance plans should be flexible so that the y can be adjusted for changing program objectives and work requirements. When used effectively, these plans can be beneficial working documents that are discussed often, and not merely paperwork that is filed in a drawer and seen only when ratings of record are required. Monitoring In an effective organization, assignments and projects are monitored continually. Monitoring well means consistently measuring performance and providing ongoing feedback to employees and work groups on their progress toward reaching their goals.Regulatory requirements for monitoring performance include conducting progress reviews with employees where their performance is compared against their elements and standards. Ongoing monitoring provides the opportunity to check how well employees are meeting predetermined standards and to make changes to unrealistic or problematic standards. And by monitoring continually, unacceptable performance can be identified at any time during the appraisal period and assist ance provided to address such performance rather than wait until the end of the period when summary rating levels are assigned. Developing In an effective organization, employee developmental needs are evaluated and addressed. Developing in this instance means increasing the capacity to perform through training, giving assignments that introduce new skills or higher levels of responsibility, improving work processes, or other methods. Providing employees with training and developmental opportunities encourages good performance, strengthens job-related skills and competencies, and helps employees keep up with changes in the workplace, such as the introduction of new technology. Carrying out the processes of performance management provides an excellent opportunity to identify developmental needs. During planning and monitoring of work, deficiencies in performance become evident and can be addressed. Areas for improving good performance also stand out, and action can be taken to help s uccessful employees improve even further. Rating From time to time, organizations find it useful to summarize employee performance. This can be helpful for looking at and comparing performance over time or among various employees. Organizations need to know who their best performers are within the context of formal performance appraisal requirements, rating means evaluating employee or group performance against the elements and stan

Thursday, August 22, 2019

The data classification policy Essay Example for Free

The data classification policy Essay The data classification policy is intended to provide a framework for classifying a company’s data based on its level of sensitivity. Data classification entails analyzing the data an organization retains, determining its importance and value, and then assigning it to a category. Data is classified to help determine baselines for security controls in that will be implemented to protect the data. Data classification policies apply to all company employees, their vendors and customers who has authorization to access the data. Anyone who has access to, is responsible for classifying, or is responsible for protecting data and is subject to being held accountable to adhering to the data classification policy. Data classification is the classification of data based on its level of sensitivity and impact to an organization. Impact is determined by how data is disclosed, altered or destroyed without appropriate authorization. How data is classified and the levels of sensitivity associated with it is generally determined by the organization but in some cases the classification is mandated by federal, state and local laws. Data classification levels are typically arranged from the most sensitive data being classified as restricted to unclassified or public data. The classification levels vary depending on the institution. Data is typically classified according to its type such as medical, financial or personal. Most organizations classify data to comply with their requirements of Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability (CIA). Data classification is the responsibility data stewards and their primary  purpose is the protection of the confidentiality, integrity and availability of the data and the data classification reflects to level of impact to the organization if the confidentiality, integrity and availability is compromised.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Management of Mandibular Condylar Fractures (MCF)

Management of Mandibular Condylar Fractures (MCF) Summary This paper reviews the literature of evidence based studies and textbooks on the management of mandibular condylar fractures (MCF). It also provides a brief outline of the signs and symptoms as well as the classification system of MCF. Optimal management of MCF is a controversial topic and there is also no consensus on its associated classification system. Overview The mandibular condyle is an articular surface that is part of the temporomandibular joint which facilitates the rotational and translational movement of the mandible. The condyle varies in appearance between individuals and also by age group to accommodate developmental variations, and also due to malocclusions, trauma and diseases. The condyle is a weak point due to its relatively low stiffness and as such is more prone to fractures than other parts of the mandible. The condyle acts as a buffer primarily to reduce intracranial injuries. Based on review of two studies, Boffano et al, 2015, reported that condylar fractures ranges from 35% to 43% of all mandibular fractures. According to Afrooz et al, 2015 condyle fractures represent 27.4% of all mandibular fractures. Based on their review of the US National Trauma Data Bank records, they also conclude that mandibular fractures are primarily caused by external causative factors such as assault, motor vehicular accidents and falls. Internal causative factors of fractures can include osteomyelitis and tumors; but are not as significant as the external factors. Signs of Mandibular Condylar Fractures Condylar fractures can be unilateral or bilateral. A patient with condylar fracture can show the following signs (Peterson Kruger, 2011): Occlusal Prematurity Reduction in vertical height of the mandible on the injured side as a result the injured side makes contact first; sometimes followed by rocking motion and then occluding to maximum intercuspation. Careful observation of the mandibular closure will show the alteration in the alignment Inability to Achieve Maximum Intercuspation In bilateral fractures, due to the fracture of both condyles there is a premature contact of the posterior teeth with a large anterior open bite. Bilateral condylar fractures along with symphysis fracture can cause posterior cross bites and anterior open bites Ipsilateral Laterognathia- In unilateral fractures there is laterognathia on the side affected by the condylar injury. Due to retrodisplacement of the mandible on the injured side, there may be Class II molar malocclusion on that side. Ipsilateral Deviation on Opening- In unilateral fractures, while opening the mandible gets deviated to the side of the injury Balancing Side Occlusal Interference during Contralateral Mandibular Translation Balancing side interferences may be present when performing contralateral jaw movements in unilateral condylar fractures Limited Mouth Opening This can be attributed to interferences of the fracture, displacement and/or rotation of the segments, coronoid impingement, bleeding, edema and pain from joint splinting. Classification of MCF There has been a lack of general consensus on the classification of the anatomical mandibular condyles which in turn has caused disagreement on the most effective way of management of MCF. There are a few systems used for classifying Condyle fractures. In the earlier days, a number of classification systems were based on radiological X-rays and were not supported by surgical experiences and findings. These systems included those proposed by Kohler, Reichenbach and Wassmund. The Lindahl system developed in 1977 is a popular method of classifying condylar fractures. In this method, the position of the fracture is the main determinant as to whether it falls in the condyle head, the condyle neck or the condyle base. These areas are delineated by specific landmarks and reference lines. This system was refined further by Loukota et al in 2005 by subdividing the condylar process more precisely and delineating defined anatomical landmarks[1]. However a drawback of this classification method is that the degree of displacement or dislocation which is essential to surgical intervention is not captured. The Spiessl method categorises the condylar fractures according to the point of occurrence of the fracture (low or high) without displacement and with displacement or dislocation as well as condylar head fractures. This classification system has been used in clinical and scientific use however there is still a limitation in that it does not define the degree of angulation nor clearly articulate the borderlines between low or high fractures. Management of MCF The management of mandibular condylar fractures has been a controversial subject. The options to management of condylar fractures include: do nothing (observation), closed reduction or open reduction techniques. With the do nothing option only practical in the simple and straight forward cases, the real debate is whether to pursue closed or open reduction. A number of variables must be taken into account to determine the treatment method. These variables include the patients age, presence of teeth, severity of fracture of the condyle and associated fractures of the mandible, fracture height, extent of malocclusion, patients adaptation, patients masticatory system and unilateral or bilateral occurrence. A literature review of many evidence based studies was undertaken with advantages and disadvantages of both the closed reduction and the open reduction methods as postulated by researchers and clinicians. The summarised findings are outlined below. Eckelt et al, 2006 undertook a study on 66 randomised patients and compared the results of open versus closed treatment of fractures of the mandibular condylar process. They stated that correct anatomical position of the fragments was achieved significantly more often in the operative group in contrast to the closed treatment group. They also found that the patients who had operative treatment reported less pain. In terms of mandibular function impairment, they reported that the persons who had operative treatment had less pain and discomfort. They also reported that there was significant differences in mouth opening/lateral excursion/protrusion between both groups (open 47/16/7mm versus closed 41/13/5mm). They concluded that both treatment options for condylar fractures of the mandible yielded acceptable results. However, operative treatment, irrespective of the method of internal fixation used, was superior in all objective and subjective functional parameters. In a study conducted on 27 patients in India, (Ragupathy, K 2016) comparing the outcomes of surgical vs nonsurgical treatment of mandibular condyle fractures, he reported that no group had malocclusion. Of the 11 persons in the open reduction group one person had a post-operative infection and two had temporary facial nerve weakness. In the closed reduction group, nine patients had loss of vertical ramus height and six had reduced mouth openings (less than 35mm). He concluded that .. nonsurgical treatment gives satisfactory clinical results, though the condyle is not anatomically normal in radiographs, whereas surgical treatment provided more accurate results clinically as well as radiographically. Kysas, 2012 et al undertook a meta -analysis of 20 studies involving analyses of 1,186 patient comparing closed reduction to open reduction in patients with condyle fractures. It must be noted that only 4 out of the 20 studies were randomised control trials (RCT). In addition, they noted that there was significant variation between treatment protocols, follow-up periods, and outcomes measured. Kysas considered a number of post treatment functionalities such as status of the post-treatment occlusion, mouth opening, protrusion, facial height, pain and the presence of postoperative ankyloses. They also considered facial nerve weakness and scarring in the case of open reduction method. The 4 RCT studies reported statistically significant conclusions favouring open reduction method over the closed reduction method; however Kysas et al found some shortcomings in these studies methodologies. Kysas et al concluded based on their meta-analysis that open reduction method for condylar fractures may be as good as or better than closed reduction. In addition, they reported that morbidity associated with surgery is low. However, they caution that available evidence is of poor quality and as such not strong enough to change clinical practice. Choi et al, 2012 summarised the advantages and disadvantages of both open and closed reductions methods. Advantages of Closed Reduction No injuries to nerves or blood vessels. No post-operative complications such as scar or infection. No tooth germ injury occurs because there is no establishment of crown of permanent teeth; this is beneficial for pediatric patients. Disadvantages of Closed Reduction Because of the insufficient reduction of bone fragments, there can be disorderly or excessive growth of the mandible and displacement of the ramus or mandibular deviation can occur. In addition there can be injury to the periodontal tissue and buccal mucosa, poor oral hygiene, pronunciation disorder, imbalanced nutrition, mouth opening disorder, and respiration disorder. Advantages of Open Reduction Minimise the number of displaced bone fragments to the best location possible. Prevent future complications such as respiratory disorder, original pronunciation and minimise nutritional imbalance Disadvantages of Open Reduction Possibility of damage to blood vessels and nerves exists. There is potential for post-operative complications. A permanent scar is very likely. Choi et al suggests that for pediatric patients, because of their elastic bone structure and thick soft tissue coverage, thin cortical bone and significant premature trabecular bone, no severe impact occurs upon receiving trauma. As such treatment methods can differ between pediatric and adult patients. They suggest that because most of the growing crown of the permanent tooth has not yet been completed, the ratio of bone tissue to the tooth is relatively low. In addition, in developing dentition, the teeth are in different stages of formation and maturation; they can also easily be in the line fracture which in turn can cause delayed eruption and ankylosis. Intermaxillary fixation of more than 2 weeks is not recommended for these pediatric patients and open reduction is not normally used since it is invasive and there is risk of facial nerve injury. They also report , no significant difference in prognosis is found compared to closed reduction. Conclusion Management of MCF remains a subject area where there is a lack of consensus on whether open reduction or closed reduction method is more suitable. Where there are some convergence of ideas include that intracapsular fractures are better treated closed6, it is better to deal with pediatric patients with closed reduction where practical and that physical therapy post treatment is important. Traditionally, closed reduction techniques were more prevalent; however with enhancement in tools available for surgical intervention, open reduction techniques are being practised more, with the added benefit of evidence based studies on such techniques becoming more available. References Afrooz, P., Bykowski, M., James, I., Daniali, L., Clavijo-Alvarez, J. (2015, December). The Epidemiology of Mandibular Fractures in the United States, Part 1: A review of 13,1442 Cases from the US National Trauma Data Bank. Journal of Oral and Maxiloofacial Surgery, 73(12), 2361-2366. Buffano, P., Kommers, S., Karagozoglu, K., Gallesio, C., Forouzanfar, T. (2015). Mandibular Trauma: A two centre study. International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 44(8). Choi, K.-Y., Yang, J.-D., Chung, H.-Y., Cho, B.-C. (2012, July 291-300). Current Concepts in the Mandibular Condyle Fracture Management Part I: Overview of Condylar Fracture. Archives of Plastic Surgery, 39(4). Choi, K.-Y., Yang, J.-D., Chung, H.-Y., Cho, B.-C. (2012). Current Concepts in the Mandibular Condyle Fracture Management Part II: Open Reduction Versus Closed Reduction. Archives of Plastic Surgery, 39(4), 301-308. Eckelt U1, S. M., KL, G., E, K., R, L., M, R., J, S., H, T. (2006, July). Open versus closed treatment of fractures of the mandibular condylar process-a prospective randomized multi-centre study. Craniomaxillofacial Surgery, 34(5), 306-14. Goldman, K. E., Meyers, A. D. (2015, August 31). Mandibular Condylar and Subcondylar Fractures. Retrieved from Medscape: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/870075-overview#a8 Hegde, S., Praveen, B., Shishir, R. (2013). Morphological and Radiliogical Variations of Mandibular Condyles in Health and Diseases: A Systematic Review. Dentistry ISSN, 3(1), 1. Kyzas, P. A., Saeed, A., Tabbenor, O. (2012). The treatment of mandibular condyle fractures: A meta-analysis. Journal of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery, 40(8). Neff, A., Cornelius, C.-P., Rasse, M., Torre, D., Audige, L. (2014, December). The Comprehensive AOCMF Classification System: Condylar Process Fractures Level 3 Tutorial. Craniomaxillofacial Trauma Reconstruction, 7. Peterson, L., Kruger, G. (2011). Petersons Principles of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Connecticut: Peoples Medical Publishing House. Raghupathy, K. (2016). Outcomes of surgical versus nonsurgical treatment of mandibular condyle fractures. International Surgey, 3(1). [1] (Neff, Cornelius, Rasse, Torre, Audige, 2014)

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Entrepreneurship And Its Wide Range Of Meanings Commerce Essay

Entrepreneurship And Its Wide Range Of Meanings Commerce Essay Entrepreneurship has a wide range of meanings. On the other hand an entrepreneur is a person who has a very high aptitude who pioneers change, possessing characteristics found in only a very small fraction of the population. Other definition, anyone who wants to work him or herself is considered to be an entrepreneur. The word entrepreneur is originated from the French entreprendre, which means to undertake. In business context, it means to start a business. The dictionary presents the definition of an entrepreneur as who organizes, manages, and assumes the risks of a business or enterprise. In the Schumpeters view of entrepreneurship who is an Austrian economist Joseph Schumpeters definition of entrepreneurship places an emphasis on innovation as the new product, new production methods, new markets, new forms of organization. Furthermore, wealth is created when such innovation result in new demand. From his point of view, One can define the function of the entrepreneur as one of combining various input factors in an innovative manner to generate the value of customer with the home that this value will exceed the cost of the input factors, thus it can generate the superior returns that result in the creation of wealth. In the context of, Entrepreneurship vs. Small business many people use the terms entrepreneur and small business owner synonymously. While they may have much in common, there are significant differences between the entrepreneurial venture and the small business. Entrepreneurial ventures are different from small businesses in these ways such as the Amount of wealth creation  which means, rather than simply generating an income stream that replaces traditional employment, a successful entrepreneurial venture creates substantial wealth, typically in excess of several million dollars of profit. Speed of wealth creation  which means, while a successful small business can generate several million dollars of profit over a lifetime, entrepreneurial wealth creation often is rapid, for example, within 5 years. Risk  which means, the risk of an entrepreneurial venture must be high or otherwise, with the incentive of sure profits many entrepreneurs would be pursuing the idea and the opport unity no longer would exist. Innovation which means entrepreneurship often involves substantial innovation beyond what a small business might exhibit. This innovation gives the venture the competitive advantage that results in wealth creation. The innovation may be in the product or service itself, or in the business processes used to deliver it. Background of the study / Problem statement. In discussing the challenges that entrepreneur face in this 21 st century, it is more helpful to divide them according to their age category or enterprise status. There are divided to 3 categories which is pre-entrepreneurs. This means, this being a probationer or transitional stage, the key challenge facing pre-entrepreneurs who are just starting out in life on their own is choosing what they want to do. White and Kenyon (2000) as warn that there is a danger in selling enterprise as the best option for everyone and forgetting that successful enterprise development begins with the initiative coming from young people themselves especially. Besides that, the challenges in facing the pre-entrepreneurs and potential entrepreneurs among them are the promotion of awareness of various career options and possibilities to start up a business. Young entrepreneurs especially womens in this category largely require awareness and understanding of what an enterprise is and what it takes to own and manage a business so that they can consider themselves as self-employment as a career option. As an entrepreneur they should decide whether explore further, or to start their own business, the second step is the provision of practical support services such as training, advice, access to finance. To start up a business for pre-entrepreneur it is likely to involve the few stages like, the Formative Stage which means, it is related to the various factors including environmental factors that can also influence the development to become an entrepreneur. At this stage, it is important to encourage young entrepreneur to acquire appropriate entrepreneurial skills, motivations, attitudes, attributes, behaviors, and values. Second stage is the, the Developmental Stage, which it is related more specific learning and targeted skill development that would prepare an individual to move to start-up a business venture. These are learning skills and strategic skills. Learning skills it is related to the ability of a person to acquire information, knowledge, and experience from the world around them that is relevant to their entrepreneurial success. And strategic skills relates to how a person sees the world around them, envisions what is desirable, and identifies entrepreneurial opportunitie s in the world around them. And the third stage is the Start-up Stage. In this stage it refers to the specific skills that are relevant for a successful entrepreneur who is looking to advance an entrepreneurial venture to a period of growth and expansion. These are tactical skills for start-up. Tactical skills are important to conceptualizing a business, developing a business plan and establishing a business. The start-up stage also requires access to credit or finance for youth entrepreneurs. Besides that there is also few types of entrepreneurs which is the Budding entrepreneurs. These is for the young people who are just starting to run their own business. The challenge facing these young person is to increase the rate of survival and success in new businesses .This also means that budding entrepreneurs have a different set of needs from those of pre-entrepreneurs and potential entrepreneurs. They also need to manage the expansion of their businesses, and this make theier needs are largely revolve around by learning and knowing the ,Tactical skills for Growth, these are skills that are important to move a business into a period of growth. They include business management, management of business finances, time management, stress management , improving sales, managing and reducing costs , marketing, recruitment by able to employ the right person at the right place, and risk management. Next is the Emergent entrepreneur, where the needs of emergent entrepreneurs who are aged 26 years and above and different from those of lower categories of youth proprietors. Many of the emergent entrepreneurs, especially those operating in low income markets, are likely to be running enterprises that are not growing, with only very few graduating to the formal sector. The major challenge facing these young adults is to transform their small business into commercial and competitive businesses. By doing that, they need to have few skill which involve the Tactical skills for Growth and transformation. By using these skills it recognizes the certain skills which are important for the entrepreneur to have, while others can employ. From the survey, I have found that these skills can be divided into two which is the skills one should have where it involves the interpersonal and team building and also involve leadership. Next is the skills one can employ, means is is more to specialized marketing, record keeping, and information management. Research objectives / Scope of studies. From the research that we are finding which is on the Challenges of Women Entrepreneurs in Malaysia, is that we have found that in the 16 countries in Malaysia, most of the women entrepreneur came up from their own family business, where they took over from their parents or family. Some of the women entrepreneur also came up by doing small business like becoming a florist, bakery shops, and so on. Most of the entrepreneurs are educated and some are average having a SPM cert. Some women came up by having degree in Entrepreneurship progrmmes by scoring well and they somehow learnt about business by education. Compare to men, the challenges for women to come up as an entrepreneur is very hard because of many factors. For example, they family itself, they dun give support to them to open up a business and if it is a man the family would always give them way because he is man and they are the lead of the family. Whereas, women are mostly known as housewife in Malaysia. To become and entre preneur financial crisis might also occurs when a person dont have a business or any income background before for them to apply a loan in bank and so on. It is hard for them to start up a business without any modal in their hands. And next is, some womens who comes from an average family at times are lack with useful information to start up a business and how to manage a business. This could also be a challenge for them to try in a business. Some womans are also weak, by making a decision where before this they are more dependent to their husbands and it is hard for them now to make a decision in a big matters like bringing up the business to a level higher than before and so on. To examine these problems, research can be conducted by researches to find out the factors that are holding back the woman to becoming successful entrepreneurs. For example, the factors as said above it could be family factors or back ground, education level, and level of information about opening up a business for their future benefit. And it could also be , where women are afraid to make a decision in a matter or either they are not the risk taking persons. And the culture of certain individual could also be the factors. To identify the culture factors, we can see it in the Indian family especially, where some of the parents dont like the girls in the family doing big jobs like taking care of the shops or either they sometimes get married in the early age. This matter always happens in the low average family, this could also be the challenges or factors affecting the Malaysia entrepreneurs. Some of the woman is affected by the inner value of them also, where it is in born with them since small where the soft side of the women . For example, if there is a problem or issue occurs in a business, they dont know how to habdle it and they might give up easily without even making or coming up with a concrete reasons or decisions. To overcome all this problems , womens should start to learnt the meaning of business by starting or trying to start with small business like selling groceries, flowers, tit bits, cloths and so on. By learning with the small business, they could learnt about business how it works and when there is a problem occurs they know how to faced it. Some womens who are knowledgeable in this filed they some came up very fast for example there is few women entrepreneurs of small business nowadays. This could motivate many others to become an entrepreneurs.

Monday, August 19, 2019

American Gothic in Sleepy Hollow, Ligeia and They Got a Hell of a Band

American Gothic in Washington Irving's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Poe's Ligeia and Stephen King's You Know They Got a Hell of a Band      Ã‚  Ã‚   America is haunted, by headless horsemen and bloody battles, by addiction and a self gratifying obsession with immortality. America has a long-standing tradition with the gothic, and some of our most widely recognized authors, such as Washington Irving, Edgar Allan Poe, and Stephen King, a more recent author borrowed from popular literature, utilize it frequently if not wholly in their writing. The gothic is an intrinsic part of our national identity, inhabiting our folklore, our literature, and influencing the way in which we view our celebrities and ultimately, ourselves. In his commentary on the gothic, Nightmare on Main Street, Mark Edmunson offers his take on the relationship between national identity and the form: Unsentimental, enraged by gentility and high-mindedness, skeptical about progress in any form, the Gothic mind is antithetical to all smiling American faiths. A nation of ideals, America has also been, not surprisingly, a nation of hard disillusionment, with a fiercely reactive Gothic Imagination. (4-5) There is much to American Gothicism. It lies deeply in the conscious awareness of the culture. Its roots are as diverse as the witch trials and the knowledge that one race of people committed genocide against another in order to obtain the land where our most illustrious universities and homogenous strip malls now sit. The character of America is in itself a gothic one. We hold aloft one set of ideas about freedom and equality, while graciously looking the other way when the savage hypocrisy that keeps the daily functions of life on an even keel rears its ugly ... ...st beneath the surface of our every day realities. Works Cited Edmunson, Mark. Nightmare on Main Street. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1997. Lauter, Paul, et al., eds. The Heath Anthology of American Literature. 3rd ed. Vol 1. New York: Haughton Mifflin Co., 1997. Irving, Washington. "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." Lauter et al. 1354-1373. Poe, Edgar Allan. "Ligeia." Lauter et al. 1450-1461. Ringe, Donald A. American Gothic: Imagination and Reason in Nineteenth-Century Fiction. Lexington KY: The University Press of Kentucky, 1982. Savoy, Eric. "The Face of the Tenant: A Theory of American Gothic." American Gothic: New Interventions in a National Narrative. Ed. Robert K. Martin et al. Iowa City, IA: University of Iowa Press, 1998. 3-19. White, Craig. Lecture. University of Houston-Clear Lake. Clear Lake, TX, 6 March. 2001    American Gothic in Sleepy Hollow, Ligeia and They Got a Hell of a Band American Gothic in Washington Irving's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Poe's Ligeia and Stephen King's You Know They Got a Hell of a Band      Ã‚  Ã‚   America is haunted, by headless horsemen and bloody battles, by addiction and a self gratifying obsession with immortality. America has a long-standing tradition with the gothic, and some of our most widely recognized authors, such as Washington Irving, Edgar Allan Poe, and Stephen King, a more recent author borrowed from popular literature, utilize it frequently if not wholly in their writing. The gothic is an intrinsic part of our national identity, inhabiting our folklore, our literature, and influencing the way in which we view our celebrities and ultimately, ourselves. In his commentary on the gothic, Nightmare on Main Street, Mark Edmunson offers his take on the relationship between national identity and the form: Unsentimental, enraged by gentility and high-mindedness, skeptical about progress in any form, the Gothic mind is antithetical to all smiling American faiths. A nation of ideals, America has also been, not surprisingly, a nation of hard disillusionment, with a fiercely reactive Gothic Imagination. (4-5) There is much to American Gothicism. It lies deeply in the conscious awareness of the culture. Its roots are as diverse as the witch trials and the knowledge that one race of people committed genocide against another in order to obtain the land where our most illustrious universities and homogenous strip malls now sit. The character of America is in itself a gothic one. We hold aloft one set of ideas about freedom and equality, while graciously looking the other way when the savage hypocrisy that keeps the daily functions of life on an even keel rears its ugly ... ...st beneath the surface of our every day realities. Works Cited Edmunson, Mark. Nightmare on Main Street. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1997. Lauter, Paul, et al., eds. The Heath Anthology of American Literature. 3rd ed. Vol 1. New York: Haughton Mifflin Co., 1997. Irving, Washington. "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." Lauter et al. 1354-1373. Poe, Edgar Allan. "Ligeia." Lauter et al. 1450-1461. Ringe, Donald A. American Gothic: Imagination and Reason in Nineteenth-Century Fiction. Lexington KY: The University Press of Kentucky, 1982. Savoy, Eric. "The Face of the Tenant: A Theory of American Gothic." American Gothic: New Interventions in a National Narrative. Ed. Robert K. Martin et al. Iowa City, IA: University of Iowa Press, 1998. 3-19. White, Craig. Lecture. University of Houston-Clear Lake. Clear Lake, TX, 6 March. 2001   

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Hitler Essay -- essays research papers

Adolft Hitler HITLER, Adolf (1889-1945). The rise of Adolf Hitler to the position of dictator of Germany is the story of a frenzied ambition that plunged the world into the worst war in history. Only an army corporal in World War I, Hitler became Germany's chancellor 15 years later. He was born on April 20, 1889, in Braunau-am-Inn, Austria, of German descent. His father Alois was the illegitimate son of Maria Anna Schicklgruber. In middle age Alois took the name Hitler from his paternal grandfather. After two wives had died Alois married his foster daughter, Klara Poelzl, a Bavarian, 23 years younger than he. She became Adolf's mother. Hitler's rambling, emotional autobiography 'Mein Kampf' (My Struggle) reveals his unstable early life. His father, a petty customs official, wanted the boy to study for a government position. But as young Hitler wrote later, "the thought of slaving in an office made me ill . . . not to be master of my own time." Passively defying his father, the self-willed boy filled most of his school hours with daydreams of becoming a painter. His one school interest was history, especially that of the Germans. When his teacher glorified Germany's role, "we would sit there enraptured and often on the verge of tears." From boyhood he was devoted to Wagner's operas that glorified the Teutons' dark and furious mythology. Failure dogged him. After his father's death, when Adolf was 13, he studied watercolor painting, but accomplished li...

The Patient Griselda, by Giovanni Boccaccio Essays -- Literary Analysi

â€Å"The Patient Griselda†, by Giovanni Boccaccio, has hidden meanings to it. Domestic violence from Gualtieri to his chosen wife, Griselda is apparent. Gualtieri feels as though his is condoned to such abuse of his wife because of her low-born social class status, her non-nobility. He further oppresses his power over her by disallowing her to have control over the upbringing of their children. Gualtieri, a young Italian marquis, was pressured by his servants to marry. His subjects were in fear that there would not be an heir to maintain the stability of their state. Gualtieri agrees to marry, but makes it clear to his subjects that he will he will find his own wife. The marquis makes his people promise that they will not question him nor criticize his choice for a wife. â€Å"My friends, since you still persist in wanting me to take a wife; I am prepared to do it, not because I have any desires to marry, but rather in order to gratify your wishes. You will recall the promise you gave me, that no matter whom I should choose; you would rest content and honour her as your lady†, (Boccaccio 164). The beginning of the marriage was peaceful. Then Griselda gave birth to a daughter. It is at this time that Gualtieri begins to â€Å"test† Griselda. His tests are actually forms of emotional abuse. He begins by testing Griselda’s obedience by having the child taken away to be raised elsewhere by woman kinfolk. He told Griselda that their daughter was dead, that he had her killed by his subjects. He repeats this same test with the birth of their son a few years later. Griselda, with no words of protest, surrenders both her children to their deaths by their own father, her husband. Griselda was abused by Gualtieri from the beginnin... ...ers as you would have others do unto you†. If it had been Griselda putting her husband through these so called â€Å"tests†, the outcome would have been very different. There would not have been any kind of a â€Å"happy ending†. Works Cited Boccaccio, Giovanni. everything2.com. Tuesday November 2000. 4 August 2010 . Campbell, Emma. "Sexual Poetics and the Politics of Translation in the Tale of Griselda." (2006): 17. Damrosch, David and David L. Pike. The Longman Anthology of World Literature Second Edition. Pearson Education, Inc., 2009. Davis, Walter R. "Boccaccio's Decameron ." The Implications of Binary Form (2003): 20. Fulton, Helen. "The Performance of Social Class:." Domestic Violence in The Griselda Story (n.d.): 42. Jaster, Margaret Rose. ""Controlling clothes, manipulating mates: Petruchio's Griselda"." (2001): 13.

Saturday, August 17, 2019

Bother and Harmonium

Jonah Dusauzay Harmonium and Brothers The most obvious similarity of Harmonium and Brothers is that they have no rhyme scheme, which is a very common practice in contemporary poems and makes the writing feel less restrictive and much more human.In the two poems the description of the relationship is actually explained at the final stanza while the previous stanza appears to set the scene and happen to reflect the speakers thoughts, such as how the harmonium in Harmonium has ‘soft wood case’ and ‘yellow the fingernails of its keys’ which is actually explaining the son’s deep down worries of how his father is slowly ageing Harmonium appears to have a somewhat nostalgic and worried tone compared to Brothers more regretful tone this is due to the narrator in Harmonium appearing to be struggling to come to terms with the fact that his father will eventually leave him, and when his father does point this out ‘he is too starved of breath’ which shows both the closeness of the relationship and the love the narrator has for his father. Brothers is a complete opposite of this, with the poem being written in second person it makes the narrator appear to be reflecting on the past; there is a sense of deep regret in the writing also, as the writer explains how he is unable ‘to close the distance. I’d set in motion’ which may reflect the narrator recalling a childhood memory about his brother that he is now estranged from.Both in Harmonium and Brothers the use of imagery is prevalent, in Brothers the use of imagery is shown from the start with the way the narrator describes how he is ‘Saddled’ with his younger brother , which makes the reader appear resent the fact that he has to be with him. The use of imagery in Brothers is also used to reflect the characters contrasting emotions through the choice of verbs, were the younger brother ‘skipped’ and is ‘spouting six year old view s’ shows the jubilance and enthusiasm of being with his older brother, yet the older brother ‘sighs’ and ‘strolls’ showing he is quite annoyed and irritated of his brothers presence.Harmoniums use of imagery is more metaphorical than Brothers, it is used to reflect the past with the intricate details of the harmonium being described as having ‘smokers fingers’ and how the ‘organists feet’ has worn down the ‘treadles’ showing an association with the past and a possible longing for it , so that he can have more time with his father . Harmonium and Brothers both have an overriding theme of inevitability, with the worry the son has in Harmonium of his father dying and in Brothers the inevitability of the two brother drifting apart is shown by how the narrator is ‘unable to close the distance. I’d set in motion’ which is due to the fact the narrator is three years older than his brother and seems to choose his friends over his own sibling.

Friday, August 16, 2019

Police surveillance Essay

Police surveillance can be a good thing but it can also be a bad thing. There are morale and ethical implications concerned with police surveillance. This literature review will thoroughly examine police surveillance. The level of police surveillance and information gathering that exists continues to be discussed by scholars. There are many perspectives when discussing police surveillance in nation states, each discussing an individual aspect of surveillance, and its significance. In Frank Webster’s book Theories of the Information Society he discusses the growth of police surveillance and organization in modern times. Within his discussion, Webster makes reference to works of Anthony Giddens. Webster uses Gidden’s explanation of the nation state, to begin his discussion of surveillance. He contends that â€Å"from the outset in the nation state, conceived as a bounded area over which is exercised political power, information has an especial significance.† He argues that from their establishment, nation states are ‘information societies,’ and a requirement of a nation state is that the members of it, be known at least in a minimal sense. He further explains this requirement by stating, that a nation state must hold both ‘allocative resources’ and ‘authoritative resources.’ He believes that in order for these resources to be achieved, effective surveillance is a prerequisite. Giddens argues that the nation state had a particular interest in and reliance upon information gathering and storage. The gathering and storage of information is part of a â€Å"contract between the nation state and its members †¦ are a battery of citizenship rights and duties.† The first duty of any government is to protect its frontiers, due to this there is an insatiable hunger for information. This hunger is amplified by possible threats to a nation’s border, whether real or perceived. This growing need for information has caused for the creation of a massive â€Å"system of interlined technologies to routinely and continuously monitor and inspect events and activities – military and civilian – around the globe.† The contact between nation state and citizen, allows for each citizen to have many rights and duties. Rights that are commonly held include a right to education, to vote, to hold a passport, to a minimum level of income, to health treatment and so on. They also have duties, as citizens, to pay taxes which are levied, and in some cases fight and die for their country. The delivery of rights and benefits by the nation state, such as the delivery of welfare benefits and services is at the heart of the system of mass surveillance; because it is [there] that the processes of classification, information gathering and recording are constantly multiplying. Gidden’s believes that the ‘informatisation’ of society is in part due to the existence of police surveillance in the modern nation state. He contends that due to this surveillance, that rather than regarding a modern nation state as an ‘information society,’ it would be better to regard it as a ‘surveillance society.’ His arguments presented provide a solid understanding of how a nation state is formed, and the role of surveillance in a ‘surveillance society.’ Giddens also provides insight into how information gathering occurs, and how that gathering of information has an effect on daily life. Gidden’s discussion of a ‘social contract’ while not new, is a way to better understand how the government can justify the use of police surveillance as it is currently used. The argument that at the rate of which surveillance is expanding and advancing, that a nation could succumb to totalitarian rule, while creative, this seems to be more of a thought provoking statement, rather than actual probability. In Kevin Robins and Frank Webster’s Times of the Technoculture: From the Information Society to the Virtual Life, the authors describe what they term as ‘the Republic of Technology.’ In this republic, society is fixated by the idea of progress, growth and development without end. They make reference to Cornelius Castoriadis, who explains that society seeks a fantasy of control. This fantasy is of â€Å"total control, of our will or desire for mastering all objects and all circumstance.† It is argued that the culture of technology is in part the reason for the expansion of police surveillance. According to Christopher Lasch, â€Å"the delusion that we can make ourselves lords of the universe †¦ is the heart and soul of modern technology.† Robins and Webster argue that the clearest expression of compulsion to command and control is found by the police. The police in their view is central to the growth of surveillance and to the growing need for information. Robins and Webster believe as Anthony Giddens, that â€Å"upon generalized patterns of change has been so profound that it is little short of absurd to seek to interpret such patterns with out systematic reference to it †¦ That police developments are central, rather than marginal to the technological project.† Robins and Webster believe that the police plays a central role for the maintenance of current surveillance and for its future expansion. Robins and Webster argue that the police, as the central force for the expansion of surveillance, plays a large role in diverting necessary funds away from its citizens and has an overriding influence on the direction research and development that could be better used for other initiatives. They argue that the lobbies impose a large degree of influence which distorts and perverts economic and social priorities through procedures which are largely closed to public scrutiny. The role of the police and the use of surveillance can be seen as a means of social control. Social control, according to Robins and Webster, is accomplished by way of surveillance and control strategies, which are modeled on the police paradigm. They believe that even policing, is moving towards a more military style of operation. Robins and Webster argue that police imperatives have played a major role in the growth of the state and the systems of surveillance. Robins and Webster agree with Anthony Giddens’ contention that â€Å"surveillance as the mobilizing of administrative power – through the storage and control of information – is the primary means of concentration of authoritative resources.† In other words, the use of police surveillance and the gathering of information are central to the maintaining control and order. The authors emphasize that within the country, the police is central to the collection of information on both possible enemies and its own citizens. Furthermore, police technologies are well funded and continue to be used to experience the ‘dream of total control.’ They argue this dream has existed in the development of technologies, and that in the future seeking this dream will result in a â€Å"system that deliberately eliminates the whole human personality, ignores the historic process, overplays the role of the abstract intelligence, and makes control over physical nature, ultimately control over man himself, the chief purpose of existence.† Robins and Webster provide a different perspective of the root of police surveillance and information gathering, and how this is largely due to the ‘fantasy of total control.’ The ability to control all that is available is a fantasy that has lead to the remarkable growth of police technologies that are used in part on a nation’s own citizens. This growth of surveillance and police technologies leaves the authors to believe that humans will lose control over themselves, with the advancements of technology. This argument is frightening but such a statement is warranted with the advancement of technologies. In The Pay-Per Society: Computers and Communication in the Information Age: Essays in Critical Theory and Public Policy, Vincent Mosco discusses the role of the police in the development of computer and communications systems. He believes that this is necessary, because the â€Å"police over the years, has exerted the most substantial influence on the development of computer and communications.† Mosco argues (similar to Robins and Webster) that the police has increasingly shaped the development of technology in the United States, particularly the development of communication and information technologies. Mosco discusses the relationship between the police, the United States government and industry. He explains how the police has been a driving force in the creation of new technologies, using funds received from the United States government, along with relationships with leading technology corporations. Mosco states that the relationship between the Pentagon and the US computer industry has always been strong. During the 1940s and 1950s the US government, led by the Pentagon, provided most of the funding for computer research. Moreover, the relationship has continued to remain strong. This arrangement has allowed for the National Security Agency to have in their control a global computer/communications satellite system that routinely monitors international telex, telegraph, telephone, radio and other transmissions, emanating from or direct to the United States. The military has not limited its surveillance only over its own territories, but also foreign nations and space. Fijnaut (1995) discusses the expansion of police technologies, and the expansion of surveillance into space. He explains that police computers are integrated into systems of Command, Control, Communication and Intelligence. Moreover, that police computers have expanded the range, speed and accuracy of weapons systems. That intelligence gathering, surveillance and reconnaissance have been expanded by way of communication technologies. The police’s wish to have the most control and protection from disorder. Fijnaut (1995) argues that the limits on police technologies has yet to be reached, and will continue to expand. This expansion of information gathering and surveillance is in part, for the protection of a nation, against disorderly conduct. The protection of a nation’s citizens and the protection of their rights is of the utmost importance for any government, and due to this, the creation of new technologies is deemed necessary. In Surveillance Society: Monitoring Everyday Life, David Lyon discusses the need for information gathering and surveillance in modern nation states. He argues that modern government administrations depend on the collection and recording of personal data. Moreover, that modernity means reliance on information and knowledge in generating and maintaining power. Due to that the fact that much of that information is personal, he argues that â€Å"such focused attention to data on individuals spells surveillance.† He contends that the magnification of surveillance capacities is a fact of modernity, and that it is part of the world that has been created in an attempt to bring social, economic and political arrangements into rational regimes of organization and control. He argues that, the focused attention (surveillance) on individual lives is characteristic of modernity, and that it provides eligibility to benefits of citizenship, such as the right to vote, or state welfare, and also may ensure that workers are appropriately remunerated, or rewarded with promotions and recognition of retirement at the appropriate time. Lyon provides both the positive and negative aspects of police surveillance, and argues that while surveillance practices may be altering, or that they may be used in negative ways, does not alter the case that police surveillance is simply a fact of modern social life. Lyon provides examples of police surveillance and information gathering in social activities. One such example is in the Toronto area, the world’s first fully automated toll road. Highway 407 provides an alternative route through the busiest corridor in Canada, with tolls collected either via transponders in vehicles or by video cameras scanning registration plates. This technology was developed from what was used for smart bombers during the 1991 Gulf War. This technology identifies the ‘target’ vehicles for tolls based on the distance driven and the time of the day. This to many, is considered a luxury, and the automatic billing rather than toll booths provides convenience. While this is true, what is not realized by the driver is that this technology permits the creation of real-time simulations of road traffic time-space movement across cities. This is extremely valuable to planners, especially in densely traveled urban corridors. This example shows how military technologies are used in public sector. Lyon also discusses the impossibility for anyone to be shielded from the existent surveillance. Lyon argues that â€Å"surveillance operates in so many daily life spheres today that it is impossible to evade, should one wish to. We are indeed wrapped in media. Most of our social encounters and almost all our economic transactions are subject to electronic recording, checking and authorization.† In all aspects of our lives, we are unable to escape. Lyon also argues that there is not one single agency that is responsible for the focused attention on our daily lives. Lyon provides insight into both those for and against the current level of surveillance, he begins by saying, that those who are opposed to such surveillance do so, â€Å"because they feel that there is something wrong when big government and large corporations seem to extract, process, exchange and even trade personal data with apparent impunity.† Lyon’s argument can be seen as being that police surveillance is a focused attention to personal life details with a view to managing or influencing those who lives are monitored. He believes this to be the power of classification, of social sorting. In his book, Lyon offers an approach, a mode of engaging with the issues related to police surveillance and information gathering. He does so, by discussing how police surveillance and information gathering technologies are implemented in daily lives, and discusses the complaints made by those who are fearful of such focus being made on their lives. In What’s New About the â€Å"New Surveillance†? Classifying for Change and Continuity, Gary T. Marx discusses how much surveillance is applied categorically and beyond persons to places, spaces, networks and categories of person. And that the distinction between self and other surveillance can be blurred. He attempts to highlight the differences between the new and traditional surveillance and offer a way to capture information relevant to contemporary social, ethical and policy considerations. In this publication, Marx is attempting to determine whether or not the protection of personal information is decreasing or increasing. Marx argues that in the last half of the 20th century, that there has been a significant increase in the use of technology for the discovery of personal information. He provides examples such as, video and audio surveillance, biometric access devices, drug testing, DNA analysis, computer monitoring including email and web usage and the use of the computer techniques such as expert systems, matching and profiling, data mining, mapping, network analysis and simulation. He believes that control technologies have become what had only previously existed in the imaginations of science fiction writers. Marx argues that a new definition of surveillance is necessary to fully understand its implications. He finds previous definitions inadequate, and provides his own definition. He suggests that a better definition of the new surveillance â€Å"is the use of technical means to extract or create personal data. This may be taken from individuals or contexts. In this definition the use of â€Å"technical means† to extract and create the information implies the ability to go beyond what is offered to the unaided senses or voluntarily reported.† This definition he believes to be better suited for what is considered new surveillance technologies. Marx argues that surveillance technologies can provide many positive aspects to society, and outlines how openness would be beneficial. He argues that through offering â€Å"high quality documentary evidence and audit trails, the new surveillance may enhance due process, fairness and legitimacy. That it may contribute to the political pluralism central to democracy by making the tools of surveillance widely available so that citizens and competing groups can use them against each other, as well government, to enhance accountability.† He argues that in the United States, unlike in many societies, surveillance technology is widely available to the public, and due to this, surveillance may no longer be considered a one-way mirror, but instead a window. In Privacy is Not the Antidote to Surveillance, Felix Stalder discusses the existence of police surveillance and information gathering in democracies. His contention is that in democracies, extensive institutional mechanisms are in place to create and maintain accountability. Moreover, that there are mechanisms to punish those who abuse their power. Stalder believes that similar mechanisms must be developed for the handling of personal information. He believes that due to the current status of surveillance, that the public (US) have become nervous. Prior to the attacks on September 11th 2001, polls showed that the vast majority of respondents were â€Å"concerned† or â€Å"very concerned† about the misuse of personal data. As discussed by Webster and Robins, Lyon and others, access to large data-sets of personal information is a prerequisite for social control. Those who hold such data have a crucial tool, which allows them to influence the behaviour of those whose data is being held. This exists not only commercially, but also more importantly by governments who collect data about their citizens in order to increase accuracy of their planning, as well as combat fraud and tax evasion. With growing concerns, the usual response to these problems is the call for further protection of privacy. While the call for more protection might be the clear answer, doing so is not as easy as one might think. The definition of what privacy is, throughout the world varies. Europeans have developed one of the most stringent approaches where privacy is understood as ‘informational self-determinism.’ Stalder explains as being, â€Å"that an individual should be able to determine the extent to which data about her or him is being collected in any given context.† In this context, privacy is personal, and being personal, every single person will have a different notion about what privacy means. Data one person might allow to be collected bight be deeply personal for someone else. The likelihood of having a collectively accepted definition is slim. Stalder provides his own solution for this ever-growing problem. Each article provides insight into different areas concerning information gathering and police surveillance. In conjunction with one another, it is possible to understand how surveillance technologies have been created, and how these technologies continue to be funded by governmental agencies. The effect that this massive funding has on local economies would require even further research, but at the essence of this dilemma, is what can be done to better protect civilians from the collection and sharing of information gathered. Civilians feel helpless to protect themselves from their privacy being invaded. Moreover, these articles explain how the protection of civil, political, economic and human rights are secured are secured through the systematic surveillance and data-collection. Without this, governments would not be capable of such a task, and these rights would surely be infringed upon. They are confronted with a growing police presence in their daily lives, some not even knowing that it exists. They use their credit card, and do not realize that each purchase is tracked, recorded, entered into a database, so that companies can use the data received, for profitable gains. They do not know that their information is bought and sold, traded on the open market, along with all other commodities. In order for governments to provide services to their citizens, they require the collection of data. This data is used for purposes that are deemed legitimate, such as taxes and social security. What worries many is what else that information is being used for, and who is being given access to it. While accountability, by governments in this area has increased, the same can not be said for information gathered by commercial entities. The growth of information gathering and police surveillance in Canada and the United States especially, can be attributed to many factors. One such factor is the need for a nation state to protect itself from invasion, the protection of its borders and citizens is of the utmost importance. This being said, governments attempt to have complete control of their territory, this requires the use of police surveillance, for surrounding nations, and for those within their borders. Another fact that needs to be addressed is the undeniable connection between governments and their police, by which technologies are funded and created. This relationship has allowed for the astonishing growth of police technologies, which in many respects drains from social services and depletes national revenues, when more civilian based initiatives could be implemented. Due to the sophistication of information gathering, civilians are no longer capable of securing their own information. Their information is passed from corporation to corporation, without any sense of protection at their disposal. There is a lack of accountability, when dealing with corporations, and how a person’s personal information is acquired and kept. Moreover, in order for any change to occur, definitions must be more precise, rather than attempting to apply vague terms for new solutions. Works Consulted Lyon, David. Surveillance Society: Monitoring Everyday Life Open University Press: Philadelphia, 2001. Marx, Gary T. What’s New About the â€Å"New Surveillance†? Classifying for Change and Continuity in Surveillance and Society 1(1) University of New Castle: United Kingdom, Mosco, Vincent. The Pay-Per Society: Computers and Communication in the Information Age: Essays in Critical Theory and Public Policy in SOSC 2312 9.0A Course Kit 2004-2005 York University: Toronto, 2004. Robins, Kevin & Frank Webster, Times of the Technoculture: From the Information Society to the Virtual Life in SOSC 2312 9.0A Course Kit 2004-2005 York University: Toronto, Stalder, Felix. Privacy is Not the Antidote to Surveillance in Surveillance and Society 1(1) University of New Castle: United Kingdom, 2002. Webster, Frank. Theories of The Information Society, Routledge: London, 2000. Undercover: Police Surveillance in America (20th Century Fund) by Gary T. Marx – Dec 5, 1989 Se crets Of Surveillance: A Professionals Guide To Tailing Subjects By Vehicle, Foot, Airplane, And Public Transportation by ACM IV Security Services – Sep 1993 Women Police: Gender, Welfare and Surveillance in the Twentieth Century by Louise Jackson – Sep 17, 2006 The Surveillance Studies Reader by Sean Hier and Joshua Greenberg – Aug 1, 2007 Police Officer Exam by Donald J. Schroeder and Frank A. Lombardo – Jan 1, 2005 Policing, Surveillance and Social Control: Cctv and Police Monitoring of Suspects by Tim Newburn and Stephanie Hayman – Jun 2001 State Secrets Police Surveillance in America by Paul; Egleson, Nick; Hentoff; Nat Cowan – 1974 Undercover-Police Surveillance in Comparative Perspective by Cyrille Fijnaut – Oct 12, 1995 State secrets; police surveillance in America by Paul Cowan – 1974 Undercover: Police Surveillance in America by Gary Marx – 1990