The Executive Branch of US Government

The Executive Branch of US Government The President of the United States is in charge of the executive branch of the United States federal government. The executive branch is empowered by the U.S. Constitution to oversee the implementation and enforcement of all laws passed by the legislative branch in the form of Congress. As one of the foundational elements of a strong central government as envisioned by America’s Founding Fathers, the executive branch dates to the Constitutional Convention in 1787. Hoping to protect the liberties of individual citizens by preventing the government from abusing its power, the Framers crafted the first three articles of the Constitution to establish three separate branches of government: the legislative, the executive and the judicial. The Role of the  President Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution states: â€Å"The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America.†Ã‚   As the head of the executive branch, the President of the United States functions as the head of state representing U.S. foreign policy and as the Commander-in-Chief of all branches of the U.S. armed forces. The president appoints the heads of the federal agencies, including the Secretaries of the Cabinet agencies, as well as the justices of the U.S. Supreme Court. As part of the system of checks and balances, the president’s nominees for these positions require the approval of the Senate. The president also appoints, without the approval of the Senate, more than 300 people to high-level positions within the federal government. The president is elected every four years and chooses his vice president as a running mate. The president is the commander-in-chief of the U.S. Armed Forces and is essentially the leader of the country. As such, he must deliver a State of the Union address to Congress once each year; may recommend legislation to Congress; may convene Congress; has the power to appoint ambassadors to other nations; can appoint Supreme Court justices and other federal judges; and is expected, with his Cabinet and its agencies, to carry out and enforce the laws of the United States. The president may serve no more than two four year terms. The Twenty-second Amendment prohibits any person from being elected president more than twice. The Role of the  Vice President The vice president, who also is a member of the Cabinet, serves as president in the event that the president is unable to do so for any reason or if the president steps down. The vice president also presides over the U.S. Senate and can cast a deciding vote in the event of a tie. Unlike the president, the vice president can serve an unlimited number of four-year terms, even under different presidents. The  Roles of the  Cabinet Agencies The members of the President’s Cabinet serve as advisors to the president. The cabinet members include the Vice President and the heads of 15 executive branch departments. With the exception of the vice president, cabinet members are nominated by the President and must be approved by the Senate. The President’s Cabinet departments are:   The Department of Agriculture, among other functions, ensures that the food Americans consume is safe and regulates the nations vast farming infrastructure.The Department of Commerce helps regulate trade, banking and the economy; among its agencies are the Census Bureau and the Patent and Trademark Office.The Department of Defense, which includes the U.S. Armed Forces, protects the nations security and is headquartered at the Pentagon.The Department of Education is responsible for ensuring equal access to a quality education for all.The Department of Energy keeps the U.S. plugged in, regulating utilities, ensuring the security of power supplies and promoting new technology to conserve energy resources.Health and Human Services help keep Americans healthy; its agencies include the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control, National Institutes of Health and the Administration on Aging.The Department of Homeland Security, established in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, is charged with preventing terrorist attacks in the U.S. and helping to fight the war on terror and includes the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Housing and Urban Development promotes affordable home-ownership and ensures that no one is discriminated against in the pursuit of that goal.Interior is dedicated to protecting and nurturing natural resources, national parks, and wildlife. Among its agencies are the Fish and Wildlife Service and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.Justice, led by the Attorney General, enforces the nations laws and includes, among other agencies, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).The Department of Labor enforces labor laws and keeps workers safety and rights protected.State is charged with diplomacy; its representatives reflect the United States as part of the world community.The Department of Transportation established the Interstate Highway System and keeps the U.S. transportation infrastructure safe and functioning.Treasury ensures the countrys financial and economic stability, manages federal finances and collects taxes . Veterans Affairs provides medical care for wounded or ill veterans and administers veterans benefits. Phaedra Trethan is a freelance writer and a former copy editor for The Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper.

GMAT and GRE Math - What is 20 of 40 Percent

GMAT and GRE Math - What is 20 of 40 Percent Are you preparing for the GRE or the GMAT? If these timed graduate and business school exams are in your future, heres a short cut for answering percent questions. More specifically, this article focuses on how to easily calculate the percentage of a number. Suppose a question required you to find 40% of 125. Follow these simple steps. Four Steps to Calculate a Percentage Step 1: Memorize these percents and their corresponding fractions. 100% 150% 1/225% 1/433 1/3% 1/320% 1/510% 1/10 Step 2: Choose a percent from the list that fits with the percent in question. For example, if you are looking for 30% of a number, choose 10% (because 10% * 3 30%). In another example, a question requires you to find 40% of 125. Choose 20% since it is half of 40%. Step 3: Divide the number by the denominator of the fraction. Since youve memorized that 20% is 1/5, divide 125 by 5.125/5 2520% of 125 25 Step 4: Scale to the actual percent. If you double 20%, then youll reach 40%.   Therefore, if you double 25, youll find 40% of 125. 25 * 2 50 40% of 125 50 Answers and Explanations Original Worksheet 1. What is 100% of 63?63/1 632. What is 50% of 1296?1296/2 6483. What is 25% of 192?192/4 484. What is 33 1/3% of 810?810/3 2705. What is 20% of 575?575/5 1156. What is 10% of 740?740/10 747. What is 200% of 63?63/1 6363 * 2 1268. What is 150% of 1296?1296/2 648648 * 3 19449. What is 75% of 192?192/4 4848 * 3 14410. What is 66 2/3% of 810?810/3 270270* 2 54011. What is 40% of 575?575/5 115115 * 2 23012.   What is 60% of 575?575/5 115115 * 3 34513. What is 5% of 740?740/10 7474/2 37

CRITIQUE ON CHAPTER 7 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

CRITIQUE ON CHAPTER 7 - Essay Example An important feature of this chapter is that it assumes that the reader is familiar with material that has been presented in all the preceding chapters. The abstract ideas are critical here, but they rest on concepts that have already been thoroughly discussed such as resource allocation ( p. 8) and perception, action and cognition (p. 9). 2. The close link between media and physics was something of a surprise, since most f the earlier chapters were more concerned with biology, but on reflection this is the missing piece of the puzzle that makes all the earlier concepts hang together. Humans are made up of physical atoms, and the concept of forces interacting in the environment in a dynamic way helps to explain some of the interesting variables in media studies, like for example why some people react in one way to a media stimulus, (e.g. being scared at a horror film) while others act in another way (e.g. just laughing at the fake blood). A lot of factors contribute to how people feel about the horror film, and this was interesting. 3. The chapter ended with an intriguing statement about uncovering â€Å"a science of human communication that is applicable across media, cultures and environments† and I would like to have heard more about this. I suspect that such a science would be very technical, and hard to follow, since the abstract concepts are not easy to remember without concrete examples, but nevertheless this does explain the point behind all this heavy theorizing. I think perhaps the authors should have made this objective clearer at the beginning of the book. Some of the lengthy theory sections might have made more sense if the reader had been aware of this final objective. 4. We talked in class about the weather, as an example of how dynamic interaction takes place and this was a good way of teasing out the relationship between ever changing variables. I liked the

Dementia ,sexaula relationships in restidental care homes for the Essay

Dementia ,sexaula relationships in restidental care homes for the eldery - Essay Example The role of social and ethical expectations laid down by the society is a safety net in many instances, but can also be akin to thinking in the box. Various issues in the society have been so marred by negative thinking and opinionated views that now merely discussing them is considered taboo. This may have helped keep some negative issues at bay, but it does not eliminate them, and the importance of looking into the various issues that are affected negatively by such â€Å"norms† is an essential need in any civilized society (Sewell, 2001, p. 1). Issues such as sexuality are considered a very private and personal issue, which is frowned upon should it be discussed more openly. While ethical approach and mannerisms may be an adequate explanation to avoid discussion in these topics, it on the other hand has led to many myths, confusions, and negative ideas about the various issues that pertain to sexuality. This approach towards sexuality and its various issues is very limiting and negative in its effect, for sexuality is among the four primary drives of the human. This drive remains through out life, and the negative reaction displayed against an elder person showing these emotions is another social stigma that has complicated matters greatly (Sewell, 2001, p. 1). More than 90% cases of dementia exhibit behavior problems including sexual inappropriate behavior in the course of their illnesses. Dementia has become more prevalent in the recent years (Srinivasan and Weinberg, 2001, p. 20). Almost 5% of the patients develop dementia in the ages 65-69 years of age, where as 20% of the patients develop dementia in ages above 85 (Srinivasan and Weinberg, 2001, p. 20). Despite the growing prevalence of dementia, there is still very little awareness in the general population about its challenges and issues, and how to respond to them. Even if dementia is not present, the population is anaware

Reseach on Performance Work Systems in Local Councils the Case of Harare City Council in Zimbabwe Essay Example for Free

Reseach on Performance Work Systems in Local Councils the Case of Harare City Council in Zimbabwe Essay 1.0 Introduction This chapter forms the basis of the study on the assessment on the role of high performance work systems have on Harare city council workers for effective and efficiency service delivery. This paper is going to provide a background of the study stating the problem, purpose and importance of the study. To add to the above, the objective, anticipated constraints and research questions, including literature review and research methodology are going to be highlighted. 1.1 Background of the study Performance has been a widely researched subject by most social scientist and industrial psychologist in an attempt to establish what motivates people to do what they do, and why they do it. An organisational performance has always been an issue for managers, as it is believed that satisfied workers tend to be more productive, creative and committed to their jobs. There is therefore need to establish whether high performance work systems are what bring satisfactory performance or there are other factors. High performance work systems is a complex and multifaceted concept, which can mean different things to different people. However, the researcher in this study attempted to establish the role of high performance systems, whether it brings positive or negative results with particular attention at Harare City Council. 1.2 Statement of the problem The dilemma at hand is that the Harare city council workers are said to be hindering the performance circles of which are of particular appeal to affect the residents. The council provide services to the residents which are not helpful but only distract them from developing their communities in the proper manner they desire. This is happening due to the failure by the council to carry out good research on its performance since today employees are expected to work in teams rather than solely on their own. They are expected to keep learning new skills and to assume broader roles through the employment security, selective hiring of new personnel, self-managed teams and decentralization of decision making as the basic principles of organizational design, comparatively high compensation contingent on organizational performance, extensive training, reduced status distinctions and barriers including dress, language office arrangements, and wage differences across levels, extensive sharing o f financial and performance information throughout the organisation. 1.3 Objectives of the study 1 To investigate and establish the role of high performance work systems in relation to organisational performance as this affects the service delivery. 2 To establish what causes poor performance and service delivery in the organisation. 3 To find out ways of maintaining and improving staff loyalty, motivation and performance. 4 To recommend on changes to improve council performance and staff welfare policy. 1.4 Significance of the study As a researcher it is of paramount importance to conduct a study on the role of high performance work systems by the local authority. One can easily notice that it is important to carry out this research as it: The research findings of this research were also intended to assist management in addressing concerns and expectations of staff in order to harness their full contribution and effort to the benefit of the organization. The organization would then use the research findings to redesign its human resources policies towards the workers welfare and provide the answers to the questions presented on the sub problems of the research problem. Employees could use the research as a platform to express their concerns and desires to management, which they would not probably get, and also use it as a reference point to those who would intend to do their own researches. 1.5 Literature review Review of related literature is the most important part of research. It refers to the systematic exploration of issues related to the one’s research which has been treated to date by various authors and authorities. According to the high performance work systems Assessment, â€Å"by social impacts we mean the consequences to human populations of any public or private actions that alter the ways in which people live, work, play, relate to one another, organise to meet their needs and generally cope as members of society.† The concept of high performance work systems and organisational performance High performance work systems have been defined as a distinctive managerial approach that enables high performance through people. (1987). High performance work systems are somewhat not quite the same as motivation, but the two are closely linked. Many thoughts and views have been developed to define performance at work but much of it explains one’s reaction, feelings and emotions towards the accomplishment of organisational goals. Many research studies were however founded to explain how people react in the manner they do in their jobs. Various factors have been associated with one’s performance. These factors include: * The level of pay and benefits, * The perceived fairness of the promotion system within a company, * The quality of the working conditions, * Leadership and social relationships * The job itself. Different models were developed to account for the attitudes that people develop at various situations. The following models of job satisfaction shall be discussed to aid the understanding of high performance work systems at work. Classical theories of Maslow (1943), Herzberg (1968) and Vroom in relation to high performance work systems have been the basis of the modern day studies. Abram Maslow proposed a hierarchical theory of five needs, which gained popularity over the years and formed a basis for management studies to human motivation at work. Having been simplified by Clayton Alderfer made a fine-tuning to the hierarchical explanations of human needs to that of three levels. Abbreviated to ERG, (Existence, Relatedness and Growth), Existence needs constituted Maslow’s physiological and safety needs, and Relatedness included internal esteem and social needs and lastly, the Growth stage was made up of self actualisation and external esteem needs. The Wikipedia encyclopaedia cited various models of which can help to explain high performance work systems that were written to by different authors as follows: * The two-factor theory * The job characteristics model * The fulfilment theory * The equity theory These models shall be discussed below to aid the research to find the basis of high performance work systems in the workplace. Theories of Employee Motivation for performance The two-factor theory This theory also known as the motivator-hygiene theory is the work of Fredrick Herzberg (1968). The theory is on the premise that employee satisfaction has two dimensions namely â€Å"hygiene† and â€Å"motivation†. (Agarwal.1983). According to Herzberg, Hygiene factors include those aspects such as company policies, supervision, salary, interpersonal relations and working conditions. Motivators include those aspects that satisfy people such as achievement, recognition, the work itself, responsibility and advancement. The model was criticised by researchers who failed to empirically measure of satisfaction as being a methodological artefact. (Wikipedia encyclopaedia). High performance work systems characteristics Model The model was proposed by Hackman and Oldham (1976), which states that there are five core job characteristics, which impact three critical psychological states. The five core job characteristics include: * Skill variety: employees use a variety of skills to complete their jobs, skills that have been acquired by long years of study and/ or experience and are the primary reason for their employment and work allocation in a business organisation * Task identity: involvement of the employee in all steps of the job, thus providing identification with the task. * Task significance: The significance of the job being properly executed to the well being of the organisation. * Autonomy: The freedom to do the job with responsibility and by oneself. * Feedback: The provision of feedback providing information about the excellence of performance of the job. The three psychological states include: * Experienced meaningfulness, * Experienced responsibility for outcomes, and * Knowledge of the actual results. The Fulfilment theory According to Agarwal (1983), fulfilment theory regard satisfaction as resulting from outcomes (rewards) a person receives or the extents to which a person’s needs are satisfied. The difficulty with the fulfilment approach is that satisfaction is a function of not only what a person receives but also what he feels he should receive and/or wants to receive. People have different expectations and what satisfies one may dissatisfy another. Equity Theory According to literature by Agarwal (1983), a person’s satisfaction is determined by his perceived equity. Received equity is, in turn, determined by his input-output balance as compared to his comparison others’ input-output balance. Input-output balance is a perceived ratio of what a person receives from his job relative to what he put in the job. According to the equity theory, either under reward or over reward can lead to dissatisfaction although the feeling associated with them are different. As illustrated by the following diagram the comparison may result in one feeling unfairly treated when outcome received appears lower than others or feels guilty when received more than others. The equity theory A Perceived outcomes actually received A = B Satisfaction A B Dissatisfaction A B Guilty and discomfort Perceived personal input B Perceived personal outcome that should be received Perceived outcome of comparison others Perceived input of comparison others Fig 1.Equity Theory (Agarwal 1983) Determinants of high performance work systems Agarwal (1983) says that there are various factors that determine performance. These are discussed below. Employee Supervision As with Herzberg hygiene factors, supervision is critical to provide leadership to employees’ performance. A good leader is one who establishes trust from his followers and promotes feedback. He knows how to treat employees at different situations. Research has shown that low performance and low productivity occurs when a supervisor is a laissez faire type of leader. Agarwal (1983). Research has also discovered that those people’s reason to seek employment is to get paid (money) though not a motivator but they desire to be paid fairly. Management must always ensure consult for salaries and benefits to see whether their employees match the market. (Putting Theory Into Practice, October 1999 publication) The work group in relation to employee performance Employees need to socialise with others to create an environment of belongingness, develop a sense of camaraderie and teamwork. Social interaction creates organisational performance though depending on their affiliation. Inappropriate behaviour should not be encouraged though because of influences, but strong reprimands should be exercised. (Putting Theory Into Practice, October 1999 publication) Job content in relation to high performance work systems Employees need to feel that the work or task they are doing is of great importance to the company. Their contributions result in positive outcomes. It is therefore essential for management to recognise as an important a task to the overall achievement of the organizational goals. Agarwal cited Herzberg, Mauner and Suyderman as holding a view that job content factors such as achievement, recognition, advancement, responsibility and the work itself tend to provide satisfaction but their absence such as supervision, working condition, company policies and salary tend to produce dissatisfaction but their presence does not produce satisfaction. Age in relation to performance According to Agarwal (1983), some research works have reported a positive correlation between age and performance. Older workers tend to be more satisfied with their jobs than their younger counterparts because older workers are said to have adjusted to their jobs while young workers still have ambitions and need for advancement. Job Satisfaction and performance The analysis of results from the work of Herzberg et al, on twenty-six studies focusing on the relationship between job satisfaction and performance, fourteen of these showed that workers with positive job attitudes had higher performance than those with negative attitudes. Nine studies have shown that job attitudes and performance were not related, and in three studies, workers with positive attitudes had poorer performance records than those with negative attitudes. Lawler, 1977 and Porter, 1961, hold the view that it is productivity that leads to satisfaction and not the vice versa. Performance leads to rewards and if these rewards are considered to be equitable in relation to the perception of the worker of the rewards of his referent others and his perceptions of what he should receive, he will experience satisfaction. The following is the illustrative diagram. Model of performance leading to satisfaction Perceived equity of rewards in relation to referent others Performance Reward intrinsic extrinsic Satisfaction Perception of how much he should receive Fig 2.Source: Agarwal 1983: Model of performance leading to satisfaction Adapted from Lawler III Porter â€Å"The effect of Performance on job satisfaction†, Human relations, October, 1967 P23 1.5 Justification of the study The area of discussion is worth studying because it aims at alerting the management of the Harare City Council how their service provision are being hindered by the employee performance, thus organisational performance is affected as well. As such the research is vital as it will help in gathering or adding information on the importance of high performance work systems being as well as its importance to the Ministry of local government urban and rural development. The Minister will be able to see if there are any amendments which need to be done and if there are any gaps left which need to be filled. Furthermore the research will see the researcher attain the ultimate goal for a Bachelor of science Honours degree in Local Governance Studies 1.6 Research Methodology Various techniques will be exploited to achieve the proposed objectives of the study. Haralambos (1995:36) asserts that: Any academic subject requires methodology to reach its Conclusions, it must have ways of producing and analysing Data so that theories can be tested, accepted or rejected without a systematic way of producing knowledge the findings can be dismissed. The researcher is going to use both quantitative and qualitative techniques to come up with conclusions as both techniques can be used to complement each other as well as questionnaires. According to wordiq.com (2011), quantitative research is the numerical representation and manipulation of observations for the purpose of describing and explaining the phenomena that those observations reflect. It is bent on developing and employing mathematical models. On the other hand, Qualitative research is a method of inquiry appropriated in any different disciplines. It means a non numerical data collection or explanation based on the attributes of the source of data. Qualitative research is used to gain insight into peoples behaviour, attitudes, value systems, motivations concerns, aspirations, culture or lifestyles. Christensen (1994) expressed that a sample makes a better study. Leedy (1993) agreed with the same idea saying that, â€Å"the larger the sample the better.† I will select the people that are going to give relevant information to this study for example the most affected people and the possible problem solvers. 1.7 Research Tools (a) Interviews (Group The researcher intends to use interviews as a research technique. Gray et al (2007) allude that the best data gathering technique for survey research is the interview. These interviews will be done in groups so as to save time. (b) Observation The researcher will use observation in tackling the research problem. The rationale for using this technique is that the researcher intends to learn about the sensitive issues that participants might be unwilling to disclose or talk about with regards to the research. (c) Analysis of secondary sources The researcher will make use of other researchers that have been studied in relation to the field under study. This will be done in order to weigh the impacts that the previous researchers have had. Target Population The study will be focussing on the Harare City Council employees. Anticipated constrains Wikipedia (2011:4) notes that any limit or restriction given for the design process is called a constraint. The study is likely to encounter a number of challenges which may compromise the quality of research results and these include: (a)Access to information The information is mostly confidential in the Harare City Council thus releasing information might be problematic. Some may be reluctant to disclose such information as such the respondents will be guaranteed that their information will be treated with utmost privacy and confidentiality. (b)Resources Resources such as time and finance may compromise the quality of the research as the researcher is a student with other university commitments RESEARCH REFERENCE LIST Argawal R.D.(1983) Organisation and Management, Mcgraw-Hill, Tata Boxall P., Macky K. Rasmussen E., (2003)‘Labour turnover and retention in New Zealand; the causes and consequences of leaving and staying with employers’ Asia Pacific Journal of Human Resources. Vol 41 (2)., Cascio, W.F. (2003) Managing Human Resources: Productivity, quality of work Life profits (6th ed.). McGraw-Hill Irwin. French, W.L. (1998) Human Resources Management. Boston, New York: Houghton Mifflin Company Ivancevich et al (1989):Foundations of Personnel ,Human Resources Management Kreitner, R., Kinicki, A. (2001) Organisational behaviour (5th ed.). Irwin McGraw-Hill. Milkovich, G.T., Boudreau, J.W. (1994) Human Resource Management (7th ed.). IRWIN Publishers, USA. Morrell W. H., Loan-Clarke J. Wilkinson J (2004), ‘Organisational change and employee turnover’, Personnel Review, vol 33 (2) Morris W.T. (1972). Management for Action: Psycho Technical Decision making. Reston. Mowday, R., Porter, L., Steers, R. (1982) Employee-organizations linkages – The Psychology of commitment, absenteeism and turnover: Academic Press, .London Rhodes, S.R., Steers, R.M. (1990)., Managing employee absenteeism Addison: Wesley Publishing Company, USA Spector, P.E. (1997)., Job satisfaction: Application, assessment, causes and Consequences: SAGE Publications, USA Van der Merwe, R., Miller, S.(1988),. Measuring absence and labour turnover: A Practical guide to recording and control. Lexicon Publishers., J

of mice and men :: essays research papers

"Of Mice and Men" is a skillful novel, which deals with the theme of `outsiders', that is, individuals who do not fit into the mainstream of society. The novel portrays this idea of loneliness throughout John Steinbeck's stimulating and exciting novel. When Lennie kills Curley’s Wife, Steinbeck describes Curley's wife as a prettier figure. He writes, "The meanness and the planning’s of the discontent and the ache for attention were all gone from her face." (p.128) This shows that now Curley's wife is dead, she now looks happy and has escaped from her loneliness. Even though Curley's wife is mentioned frequently, we never know what her name is. This just shows how people do not care for others, leading to loneliness. I think all the men do not consider her as a normal human being, but and object, this object refers to the picture since in the picture there stands one tree in the middle of no where thus representing loneliness. All of the men are to scared to talk to her in case Curley becomes jealous and wants to start a fight. She has no female friends on the ranch, so the men are her only option, but they do not want to become friends with her. She spots out Lennie and wants to start a friendship with him as all of the others fear Curley and will have nothing to do with her. She says to Lennie â€Å"Think I don’t like to talk to somebody ever once in a while?† This shows that she is trying to tell Lennie that she desperately needs to talk to somebody as she hardly does ever talk to anyone because they do not listen to her. The dreams that so many of Steinbeck’s characters have are ultimately covering pains and difficulties that they may be enduring. Curley’s wife is the only main character that Steinbeck did not provide a name for. This could be for the reason that the men at the ranch saw her as a nobody and a tramp; therefore Steinbeck is showing she should not be issued with her own name. I am given the impression that she is living in two lives. In reality she is living in a boring ranch, with no companionship in isolation. However, she also believes that she would make it to the movies one day. She says to Lennie "I aint used to livin like this. of mice and men :: essays research papers "Of Mice and Men" is a skillful novel, which deals with the theme of `outsiders', that is, individuals who do not fit into the mainstream of society. The novel portrays this idea of loneliness throughout John Steinbeck's stimulating and exciting novel. When Lennie kills Curley’s Wife, Steinbeck describes Curley's wife as a prettier figure. He writes, "The meanness and the planning’s of the discontent and the ache for attention were all gone from her face." (p.128) This shows that now Curley's wife is dead, she now looks happy and has escaped from her loneliness. Even though Curley's wife is mentioned frequently, we never know what her name is. This just shows how people do not care for others, leading to loneliness. I think all the men do not consider her as a normal human being, but and object, this object refers to the picture since in the picture there stands one tree in the middle of no where thus representing loneliness. All of the men are to scared to talk to her in case Curley becomes jealous and wants to start a fight. She has no female friends on the ranch, so the men are her only option, but they do not want to become friends with her. She spots out Lennie and wants to start a friendship with him as all of the others fear Curley and will have nothing to do with her. She says to Lennie â€Å"Think I don’t like to talk to somebody ever once in a while?† This shows that she is trying to tell Lennie that she desperately needs to talk to somebody as she hardly does ever talk to anyone because they do not listen to her. The dreams that so many of Steinbeck’s characters have are ultimately covering pains and difficulties that they may be enduring. Curley’s wife is the only main character that Steinbeck did not provide a name for. This could be for the reason that the men at the ranch saw her as a nobody and a tramp; therefore Steinbeck is showing she should not be issued with her own name. I am given the impression that she is living in two lives. In reality she is living in a boring ranch, with no companionship in isolation. However, she also believes that she would make it to the movies one day. She says to Lennie "I aint used to livin like this.

Defenders Of Art And Life Differ On Everything In Between

In Robert Browning's â€Å"Fra Lippo Lippi†, a 15th century painter discusses the illogic of his patrons who want him to paint less of the real world—in turn for more spiritually uplifting scenes.   This poem gives Browning a platform to put forward his philosophy on art, which holds equal respect for the high and the low alike.   Similarly, in â€Å"Why The Novel Matters†, D. H. Lawrence forms a postulation that there is more to life than just the label of â€Å"spirit†.   But he goes further to say that there is a difference between that which is alive, and that which is inanimate.He contends life is more important—and a well-written novel is the equivalent of life.   He puts novels on a pedestal, while everything else is lesser than the living things.   Browning's character Lippi, however, while also detesting the barrier of the word â€Å"spirit† , does not go so far as to say the material mortar of the world is somehow more imp ortant than the soul.   He merely defends its equivalence.   He does not believe his paintings are more important than living things; he believes that they share equal value.Although Lawrence is willing to include the human body in with the word â€Å"spirit†Ã¢â‚¬â€he draws a line at the fingertips, and calls everything else (except for the novel) of lesser substance; alternately, Lippi is more liberal in his view, for he does not dwell overlong on the delineation between life and immaterial things—but just on their symbiosis.   Ultimately, Lippi is more humble about his art and life in general.For Lippi, painting for his patrons is only half of a life: carousing about town is the other part.   This is why he regularly escapes for release from the dogged work.   Although the religious service is a career for him, he cannot sustain it without proper romps on the town.   Therefore, by living in worlds both saintly and debauched, Lippi is able to see through the Prior's facade, when he is asked to only paint the spirit—not the body.   The Prior says: â€Å"Your business is not to catch men with show †¦Ã‚   Your business is to paint the souls of men† (Lines 175-184).   Lippi, however, would rather include everything in his art, and therefore more accurately reflect the world—and make better use of art.   â€Å"Now is this sense, I ask?†(198) Lippi says.â€Å"Why can't a painter lift each foot in turn, †¦ Make his flesh liker and his soul more like †¦ You should not take a fellow eight years old / And make him swear to never kiss the girls.†(224-225).   Lippi rails against simplifying existence into a word or an image: â€Å"The world and life's too big to pass for a dream †¦Ã‚   The only good of grass is to make chaff†(251-257).   Lippi cannot settle for a narrow view of the order of things—while Lawrence only partly concedes that there is more to â€Å"spiri t† than just vapor.  Lawrence contests that life's ether is as vital as the shell—and by singling out, labeling—or falsely idolizing any one part of its essence, we are hindering ourselves from fully living.   For instance, Lawrence rants on the fallacy of labels: â€Å"We think of ourselves as a body with a spirit in it †¦ Mens sana in corpore sano.   The years drink up the wine, and at last throw the bottle away, the body, of course, being the bottle†(2446).   Indeed, Lippi's dead shell of a horse is Lawrence's empty bottle of spirits—and the two of them seem to agree that definitions of the â€Å"spirit† are just distractions from the truth of existence.Lawrence, however, sets aside one exception, being that the Bible itself, when read as an entire piece, achieves some spirit similar to that of the humankind: â€Å"The Bible †¦Ã‚   [It sets] the whole tree trembling with a new access of life, [it does] not just stimulate growth in one direction†(2448).   Herein lies one key difference, then, between Lippi and Lawrence, which is that Lawrence makes exception for the novel as being at the rank of a living entity—while Lippi does not go so far as to suggest that art is exclusive from the rest of the lifeless world, although he does believe it is as important as life.   After all, Lawrence says the novel can â€Å"make the whole man alive tremble.Which is more than poetry, philosophy, science, or any other book-tremulation can do†(2448).   Moreover, while he does not specifically call out painting as one of the lesser â€Å"tremulations†, it seems safe to say this is implied—since he even excludes poetry from his sacred circle of life—which, ironically, is the medium through which Browning's Lippi is experienced.   In contrast, Lippi says that life's everyday details are â€Å"better, painted—better to us †¦ Art was given for that†(300 -304).—and again, Lippi does not put art above life—only beside it.   He says: â€Å"Do you feel thankful, aye or no, / For this fair town's face, yonder river's line, †¦ What's it all about? / To be passed over, despised? or dwelt upon†(286-291).Of course, Lawrence, does distinguish the particularization of his own body, and how each part is equal to the whole—but nothing beyond himself: â€Å"Why should I imagine that there is a me which is more me than my hand is?†(2446).   But Lawrence's â€Å"me alive† theory excludes the static objects of the order of things as merely props—that are not to be confused with life or novels.Ultimately, Lippi sees no place for the soul without the bodily elements, and rhetorically argues: â€Å"What need of art at all? A skull and bones, / Two bits of stick nailed crosswise†(321).   Lawrence, however, sees the various mediums of communication as â€Å"words and thoughts and sighs and aspirations that fly from [us], they are so many tremulations in the ether†(2447).   Lawrence merely concedes that the lifeless elements are â€Å"tremulations† that may â€Å"reach another man alive† and â€Å"he may receive them into his life, and his life may take on a new color†(2447).So, while Lawrence agrees with Lippi that the baser elements are important, he goes on at length to flesh out the reasons why life and the novel are substantially more important:   â€Å"All things that are alive are amazing.   And all things that are dead are subsidiary to the living†(2447).   He builds a wall between life and the novel—and the rest of existence: â€Å"I, who am man alive, am greater than my soul†(2447).   In this way then, while Lawrence agrees with Lippi that the parts cannot be distinguished from the whole, without excluding the essence—he differs in that he goes further to impose a privileged position upon th e energy of life and novels, whereas Lippi simply thinks that art and the lesser units ought to have equal exposure in the spotlight life.So Lawrence is circular in his theory, insisting â€Å"spirit† is limiting in its language—while touting the transcending power of the novel.   Indeed, despite arguing that limitations abound under labels, and that any â€Å"particular direction ends in a cul-de-sac†(2448)–Lawrence is still making divisions: â€Å"A character in a novel has got to live, or it is nothing†¦.   We likewise, in life have got to live, or we are nothing†(2449).  Ã‚   Plus, he is proud of his specialness as an artist, in a way that Lippi is too humble ever to approach: â€Å"Being a novelist, I consider myself superior to the saint, the scientist, the philosopher, and the poet, who are all great masters of different bits of man alive, but never get the whole hog†(2448).Ultimately then, at the root of their respective p hilosophies on art and life, Lippi is more adverse to divisions of all kinds, not putting himself or his art above the world, put equal to it.   One senses that he is not likely anymore proud of himself than the subjects he paints about, while Lawrence is more proud of the novels he writes than the objects described in them.

Study Notes †Balance management Essay

Customer Flow: Taco Bell serves on average 1,500 customers per day (15 hours). On average there are 75 customers in the restaurant (waiting to place the order, waiting for the order to arrive, eating, etc.). How long does an average customer spend at Taco Bell and what is the average customer turnover? R=1,500 customers/day I=75 customers T=I/R=(75 cus/1,500 cus/day)x(15 hrs/day)x(60min/hr)=45 minutes Customer turnover=1/T=(1/45 min)x(60 min/hr)x(15 hrs/day)=20 times per day Job Flow: The Travelers Insurance Company processes 10,000 claims per year. The average processing time is 3 weeks. Assuming 50 weeks in a year, what is the average number of claims â€Å"in process†? R=10,000 claims/yr T=(3 weeks)/(50 weeks/yr)=3/50 yr I=RT=(10,000 claims/yr)Ãâ€"(3/50 yr)=600 claims Material Flow: McDonalds’s holds raw hamburger meat an average of three days before its cooked and sold to customers. The typical inventory of raw meat is 2,500 lb. What is the average amount of hamburger McDonald’s goes through in a week and what is the takt time of processing hamburger in a 15-hour day? R=I/T, R=?, T =3 days=3/7weeks, I=2500lbs, R=2500lbs/ 3/7weeks R=5,833lbs/week, Takt =1/R 1/5833 lbs/week x 7days/week x 15hr/day x 60min/hour = 1.08min/lb – means none of the processes can take more than 1.08min Monetary Flow: For the new Euro introduction in 2002, Wim Duisenberg had to decide how many new Euro coins to stamp by 2002. Euroland’s central banks’ cash-in-coins handling was estimated at â‚ ¬300 billion per year. The average cash-in-coins holding time by consumers and businesses was estimated at 2 months. How many Euro coins were to be made? R=300 B/yr T=(2 months)/(12 months/yr)=1/6 yr I=RT=(300 B/yr)x(1/6 yr)=â‚ ¬50 B Cash Flow (Accounts Receivable): A wholesaler sells $300 million worth of clothes and accessories to retailers per year. The average accounts receivable is $45 million. What is the average billing to collection process cycle time? T=I/R=($45 M/$300 M/yr)x(52 wks/yr)=7.8 weeks A general manager at Baxter states that her inventory turns three times a year. She also states that everything that Baxter buys gets processed and leaves the docks within six weeks. Are these statements consistent? No, because if the flow time is 6 weeks, then inventory turns should be 1/T=(1/6 wks)x(52 wks/yr)=8.7 turns/year. 1. Registration: Average Inventory = 20, Throughput = 20 per hour, Average flow time = 20 / 20 = 1 hour Triage: Average Inventory = 5, Throughput = 20 per hour, Average flow time = 5 / 20 = 0.25 hour, Admit: Average Inventory = 10, Throughput = 5 per hour(25%of20), Average flow time = 10 /5 = 2 hours Average time spent by people admitted = 1 + 0.25 + 2 = 3.25 hours Routine: Average inventory = 10, Throughput = 15 per hour (75%of20),, Average flow time = 10/15 = 0.6667 hour Average time spent by routine care patients = 1 + 0.25 + 0.6667 = 1.9167 hours Average time in ER for all patients = 0.25(3.25) + 0.75(1.9167) = 2.25 hours OR 2. In this case we have: Average Inventory = 20 + 5 + 10 + 10 = 45, Throughput = 20 per hour, Average flow time = 45 / 20 = 2.25 hours. Inventory turns can be calculated using financial statements by dividing COGS (R) by average inventory value (I), linking flow time (an operational measure) to financial measures. With a decrease in total assets (such as inventory, accounts receivable, and plant & equipment), return on assets (ROA) improves. Flow Time = Inv/COGSInv Turns= COGS/Inv

Longhouse to Village essays

Longhouse to Village essays In the book From Longhouse to Village: Samo Social Change, the author R. Daniel Shaw reflects on the impact that extended contact with modern culture and people has on the Samo people. The Samo people were seen as uncivilized and savage people, who frequently conducted raids on each other. However, after contact with Western culture and a modern government, the lives of the Samo people were changed dramatically. Each chapter in Shaws book discusses a different aspect of Samo culture. It shows how they were before and after contact. The book compares and contrasts the changes that took place and the effect they had on the lives of the Samo people. One of the major changes discussed in the book is the process by which the Samo people moved from their protective longhouses to villages. The Samo people were very much considered war-like people before contact with Western civilization. Their longhouses were built as a means of defense in war situations. Each longhouse was built to be able to keep intruders out. The men were able to fire arrows from an open porch area and they were also able to get a better viewpoint from this are as well. If there was a raid on the house, the Samo people were able move inside and keep intruders out by stacking logs to block the main entrance. This means of defense was very effective. The government of the Western civilization outlawed raids and killing, which the Samo did their best to adhere to. This outlaw eventually eliminated the need for protective houses, which proved to be a waste of time and resources. The Samo people quickly adhered to the laws of this modern government. They realized that building their longhouses in isolated areas due to protection was not necessary. I dont feel that the Samo people talked about in this book are very different from the way we are today. They were quick to change their ways when they realized it was unnecessary and there were quicker ways of...

The Biblical Reference in The Grapes of Wrath

The Biblical Reference in The Grapes of Wrath There is a Biblical reference in Revelations to the grapes of wrath that appears to be the earliest known source or inspiration for John Steinbecks famous novel, The Grapes of Wrath.  The passage is sometimes referred to as The Grape Harvest. Revelation 14:17-20 (King James Version, KJV): 17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. 18 And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. 19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great wine press of the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the wine press, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs. With these passages, we read about the final judgment of the wicked (unbelievers), and the complete destruction of the Earth (think Apocalypse, end of the world, and all the other dystopian scenarios). So, why did Steinbeck draw from such violent, destructive imagery for the title of his famous novel? Or, was that even in his mind when he chose the title? Why Is It So Bleak? With Grapes of Wrath, Steinbeck created a novel set in the Depression-era Dust Bowl of Oklahoma. Like the Biblical Job, the Joads had lost everything under disastrous and inexplicable circumstances (the Oklahoma Dust Bowl, where crops and the topsoil literally blew away). Their world had been obliterated/destroyed. Then, with their world torn apart, the Joads packed up all their worldly possessions (like Noah and his family, in their infamous Ark: Noah stood on the ground looking up at the great load of them sitting on top of the truck.), and were forced to set off on a cross-country trek to their Promised Land, California. They were searching for a land of milk and honey, a place where they could work hard and ultimately fulfill the American Dream. They were also following a dream (Grandpa Joad dreamed that hed have as many grapes as he could eat when he reached California). They had very little choice in the situation. They were escaping from their own very-certain destruction (like Lot and his family). The Biblical references dont stop with their journey toward the Promised Land either. The novel is infused with Biblical allusions and innuendo, though Steinbeck often chooses to slant the imagery to fit his own literary vision for the novel. (For example: Instead of the baby being the representative Moses who will lead the people to freedom and the Promised Land, the little rain-soaked body heralds news of utter devastation, starvation, and loss.) Why does Steinbeck use Biblical imagery to infuse his novel with symbolic meaning? In fact, the imagery is so pervasive that some have called the novel a Biblical epic. From Jim Casys perspective, religion offers no answers. But Casy is also a prophet and Christ-like figure. He says: You dont know what youre a doin (which, of course, reminds us of the Biblical line (from Luke 23:34): Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.

Sales and Promotion in Sports Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Sales and Promotion in Sports - Assignment Example ompany might make use of television commercials, news paper, sports magazine, and face to face amongst other advertising modes to reach the full paying customers. Sporting events relies heavily on promotion activities offered to communicate to the target population. The use of web site that appears professionally designed educates the prospects of the services offered by the sporting company. Professionally designed web pages depict a capable and credible image of the sporting organization to the clients. The site requires to, provide information concerning the target population and how the sporting event undertakes its operations to ensure customer satisfaction (Kaser & Oelkers, 2008). Providing members with a free trial membership helps the sporting company attract a significant number of members. The members recruited via the trial membership method receive the same membership benefits enjoyed by full paying members. The benefits includes but not limited to tournament invitations, newsletters, and discounts. While implementing the discount–admission promotion, the sporting company requires contacting the successful candidates of the trial membership via phone. Contacting the clients enable the sporting organization to, realize whether the candidates can be converted into members (Irwin et al, 2008). Trial membership requires the sporting company to have a lead. Leads remain leads till proven otherwise; where the individuals convert into a paying customer. In cases where the clients travel to attend to the sporting event; the sporting company should see this opportunity to provide accommodation. The company needs to enhance its promotional strategy by providing clients with a feasible and affordable accommodation. The client can come and benefit the organization in watching sports and still relax. This enables the client to enjoy the organization’s value (Kaser & Oelkers, 2008). Return trips organized by the sporting organization enables the customers save

The role of religious thought and influence on the development of Term Paper

The role of religious thought and influence on the development of Western art and culture - Term Paper Example Other artists (or even the same artist at a different time) may even try to conceal their religious identity in their artwork, but at times it may still be evident and thus influential. As such, there are many examples of religious thought within the realm of Western art and culture, and these may come from less than obvious sources. The most populous religion in the Western world is Christianity, and it is true that this religion has had a large influence on Western art of all types. However, it would be wrong to assume that this is the only religion or religious movement that has exerted its effects on culture, as Islam and Eastern religions have travelled to the West and left their mark. Additionally, new religious movements can also be felt within some more contemporary examples of artistry, and these will be explored throughout this paper. The thesis is that art will prove to have been heavily influenced by several religious traditions throughout the ages and Christianity will p rove to be more influential than most within the context of Western art and culture. ... hristianity has had on Western culture (rather the opposite), rebelling against the religion is still an important effect and as such these works will be discussed also. One of the most famous artists of the Renaissance period was Leonardo da Vinci, and he produced a number of paintings that reflect Christian ideology. Some of the most famous of these are The Last Supper, Virgin of the Rocks and Baptism of Christ, all of which were painted at the latter end of the 15th century (Janson & Janson, 2004) These works continue to have an astounding presence within the culture of today, and Leonardo da Vinci is one of the most mysterious and intriguing artists of this time, not least because some of his Christian based works seem to mask areligious messages. Many artists have cited da Vinci as an inspiration, meaning that these works continue to have a message today. Another figure within the Renaissance art world was Machiavelli, who was a political philosopher who created numerous works o f poetry and literature. Interestingly, Machiavelli was a humanist and did not officially follow Christianity. However, given the religious climate at the time, Christianity indubitably affected the writing of Machiavelli, despite much of it being reactionary, and as such this can be classified as a lasting effect that Christianity has had on literature (Virolli, 1998). Although this was a time in which many pieces of art were for the Church or felt the need to appease the Church, there are other times in which Christianity has had an effect on art and culture in the West. For example, within modern times, a lot of work has been of an atheist nature, but many artists do still produce images in a religious vein. For example, Henri Matisse, a prolific French painter, produced a stained-glass