Vertical and Horizontal Integration Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Vertical and Horizontal Integration - Essay Example Companies, especially in the technology industry, are continuously reorganizing and restructuring. This is in order to keep their relevance in a field that HP’s CEO cites as ruthless.The technology industry has continuous consumer shifts, new inventions, and these present risks for redundancy. Companies that manufacture hardware in previous years are now acquiring the production of software. Companies that only dealt with software are acquiring hardware production facilities in a bid to stay afloat; this occurred in the case of HP and Google. HP has been, since its inception, manufacturing hardware, but in 2011, it acquired Autonomy, a software maker (Idea 2011). In the case of Google, in has since acquired Motorola, which deals with handset manufacturing (Blodget 2011). Other industries seem to be inclined to this restructuring. For example in the fashion industry, due to strict employment law and labor intensive nature of the apparel industry, companies had shifted to offsho re production in a bid to diminish costs and elevate returns margins. Nevertheless, an internalized company, Zara, bypassed the companies that operated using this model, in size and profitability. Zara is the current leader in apparel retailing, overtaking GAP and H&M. Inditex, which owns Zara, oversees the production of cotton, its processing and final conversion to fashion goods. This happens in its more than 100 companies dealing with different levels of production. Oversea production compromised lead-time (time taken for goods to reach consumers and responsiveness to customer needs. This led to higher levels of inventory cost; this was absent in Zara’s model, which controlled its production, designing, making and retailing of its products. This allows for lower inventory costs, increased lead-time, and efficiency (Grant 2005, p. 398-399). Numerous apparel companies, for example, GAP, are returning to local production to balance their market competitiveness in an industry, which moves, terribly fast. Another industry with a similar trend is the oil and gas industry. In this segment, companies with gross market shares, for example, BP and ExxonMobil control and invest in petroleum exploration, mining, transportation, processing, supply, and retailing of petroleum goods. These structural adjustments are not without controversies and questions. Regulating body determine whether, apart from the companies’ increased revenues, there are benefits to consumers. For example, authorities and litigators have extensively questioned and subjected to investigations, the move by Google. This write up will evaluate the definition and implications of the two distinct structural models, their advantages and limitations. Defining the concepts: Vertical integration Vertical integration refers to a form of management control. Companies using this model, have other affiliated companies, either in upstream or downstream, which a common owner as their basis of unity. This is achieved through mergers or acquisition of companies at different levels of production. Vertical integration refers to a company’s ownership of vertically related activities. The greater the firm’s tenure over successive stages of the value chain for its creations, the greater the extent of vertical integration. This index depends on the ratio of the company’s value added to its sales revenue. In the technology industry, specifically PC industry, these levels of production may be categorized as follows; raw materials, which mainly include plastic, silicon and other metals. Components parts manufacturing follow, examples in this category include Intel and micron technology. The next level is the final assembly done by corporations including HP and Dell. The last stage involves delivery to customers through retailers such as OfficeMax and CompUSA. In the apparel industry, the above stages would be divisible into cotton growing or petroleum

Correct the grammar Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Correct the grammar - Essay Example Additionally, the living room contains three tables. The first one is 2† X 2† and it is in the left side of the couch, the second one is in front of the couch with measurement of 7† X 5† X4† h. The third one is a TV table and it is in the front of the door, the table measuring 12† L X 3† W X 5† H. Between the window, which is in the opposite side of the door, and the TV table there is a Christmas tree measuring 5† X 5†. On the right side of the couch there will be the trashcan. The floor of the living room is furnished by half carpet and half wood. The interior walls are covered with decoration sheets, and the window is covered with a curtain. Based on the fuel, heat and oxygen, the fire will ignite and spread easily. The fire will start from the trashcan and will be spread by the wall decoration and the couch by the convection and conduction transfer of heat. However, most of the fuels are sitting horizontally so the fire will spread slowly because of the limited heat transfer, the air way opposite to the fuel (counter flow flame spread). Few minutes later the fire will get to the point of flame over, and then to the flash over, which will make the fire to spread because the smoke will spread all over the room, and by the heat transfer of radiation, which is coming from the smoke will ignite anything far away from the main fire. Additionally, the living room contains good ventilation so it is possible to have a back

Intracellular Biosynthesis of Cadmium Sulfide Nanoparticles

Intracellular Biosynthesis of Cadmium Sulfide Nanoparticles Intracellular biosynthesis of Cadmium Sulfide nanoparticles using culture supernatant of Escherichia coli Abstract There is a growing concern to develop environment-friendly and sustainable methods. Since the synthesis of nanoparticles of different compositions, sizes, shapes and controlled dispersity is an important aspect of Nanotechnology new costeffective procedures are being developed. Microbial synthesis of Nanoparticles is a Green chemistry approach that interconnects Nanotechnology and Microbial Biotechnology. Microorganisms play an important role in the eco-friendly synthesis of metal nanoparticles. Here an attempt was made to biologically synthesize fluorescent cadmium sulfide nanoparticles. The present study uses Escherichia coli PTCC 1330 as a potential producer for the green synthesis of CdS nanoparticles. Biologically synthesized nanoparticles were characterized and confirmed after 24 h of incubation at room temperature using electron microscopy, XRD, EDS and FTIR. The size distribution of the nanoparticles was found to be 5–200nm followed by which the consequence of time, growth of the organism, pH, concentration of CdCl2 and Na2S on the synthesis of nanoparticles were checked. Enhanced synthesis and fluorescence emission of CdS nanoparticles were achieved at pH 9. Keywords: Nanotechnology; Biological synthesis; Silver nanoparticles; Escherichia coli; Eco-friendly 1.Introduction Bionanotechnology has emerged up as integration between biotechnology and nanotechnology for developing biosynthetic and environmental-friendly technology for synthesis of nanomaterials. Nanoparticles are clusters of atoms in the size range of 1–100 nm. â€Å"Nano† is a Greek word synonymous to dwarf meaning extremely small. The use of nanoparticles is gaining impetus in the present century as they posses defined chemical, optical and mechanical properties. The metallic nanoparticles are most promising as they show good antibacterial properties due to their large surface area to volume ratio, which is coming up as the current interest in the researchers due to the growing microbial resistance against metal ions, antibiotics and the development of resistant strains[1-2]. Nanoparticles exhibit completely new or improved properties compared to larger particles of the bulk material and these novel properties are derived due to the variation in specific characteristics such as size, distribution and morphology of the particles. Nanoparticles present a higher surface area to volume ratio with decrease in the size of the particles[1-2]. As the specific surface area of nanoparticles is increased, their biological effectivene can also increase on the account of a rise in surface energy. Nanoparticles have a wide range of applications, as in combating microbes, biolabelling, and in the treatment of cancer. Size control during synthesis of particles is an important criterion in the arena of silver nanoparticle biosynthesis. Depending on the size of the nanoparticles, their applications branch out. Although AgNPs are synthesized both intra- and extra-cellularly, the latter method of biosynthesis of nanoparticles is highly advantageous because of ease of control over the environment, large-scale synthesis and easy downstream processing steps. It is well known that the electronic and optical properties of metal nanoparticles are heavily size- and shape-dependent. Controlling the size, shape and surrounding media of metal nanoparticles are important as many of their intrinsic properties are determined by these parameters[3-8]. This study illustrates the synthesis of CdS nanoparticles using the bacterium Escherichia coli PTCC 1330. The morphology of the samples was analyzed using Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and the particles formed were characterized to be nanoparticles. The size of CdS nanoparticles in aqueous solution has been calculated using UV–Vis spectroscopy, XRD, EDS, FTIR and TEM measurements. The nanoparticles are found to be polydisperse nanocubes in the size range 5–200 nm[3]. 2. Materials and methods 2.1. Materials, bacterial strain The test strain was: Escherichia coli PTCC 1330, The strain was prepared of IROST, CdCl2 was purchased from Hi Media laboratories, India and Na2S was purchased from Merck, Germany. All other chemicals used are of analytical grade. 2.2. Preparation of supernatants Muller-Hinton broth (MHB) was prepared, sterilized, and inoculated with a fresh batch of test strain. The culture flasks were incubated for 24 h at 30 ºC for bacteria. After the incubation period, the cultures were centrifuged at 12,000 rpm and their supernatants were used for further experiments. 2.3. Synthesis of Cadmium Sulfide nanoparticles The obtained supernatants were washed with phosphate buffer saline (pH 7.0) for 3 times. 1mM solution of CdCl2 (for E. coli) was prepared using deionized water. 35 ml of the solution was added to supernatants and resulting solution was kept for incubation in a shaker at 220 rpm and room temperature for 30 min. Then, 35 ml of 1mM Na2S solution was slowly added to the solution. The samples were then incubated at room temperature with end-over-en rotation for 10 min[9-10]. 2.4. Purification of nanoparticles For measuring the amount of UV–Visible absorption by synthesized CdS nanoparticles, samples were washed twice with 50mM phosphate buffered saline (pH 7.0). Then, ultrasonic disruption of cells was performed using an ultrasonic processor (Retsch, UR1) over three 45 S periods with 10 s intervals between periods. The sonicated samples were then filtered using a 0.22 µm filter to eliminate cell-debris and other pollutants. The filtered solutions were then used for characterization of CdS nanoparticles. 2.5. Effect of growth parameters on CdS nanoparticles production 2.5.1 Effect of CdCl2 and Na2S concentration on synthesis and particle Sizes To obtain the optimum concentration of CdCl2 and Na2S that yields the maximum synthesis of nanoparticles and particle-size distribution, CdCl2 and Na2S, at concentrations ranging from 1 to 10mM, was added to the supernatant at pH 9.0 and temperature 30 ºC. 2.5.2 Effect of temperature and pH on nanoparticle synthesis and particle sizes To obtain optimum conditions for maximum synthesis of nanoparticles and particle-size distribution, the obtained the optimum concentration of CdCl2 and Na2S was added to the supernatant and incubated at various temperatures (25–30  ºC) and pH conditions(5–11). The pH of the incubation mixtures was adjusted using 1M HCl and 1M NaOH solutions. The optimum condition for synthesis of nanoparticles is temperature of 30 ºC and pH of 9. 2.6. Synthesis of CdS nanoparticles at various growth phases and time period To find the effect of growth phase of the organism on CdS nanoparticles production, Escherichia coli was inoculated into nutrient broth of four different flasks. The flasks were allowed to grow at various growth stages (lag phase, log phase, late log phase and stationary phase). After that the biomass was incubated with cadmium chloride or cadmium sulfate and sodium sulfide solution. The effect of time over the growth was evaluated by collecting the samples at every 1 h up to 120 h. Maximum amount of nanoparticles synthesized by bacterial strain was achieved in stationary phase. 3. Results and discussion The application of nanoscale materials and structures, usually ranging from 1 to 100 nanometers (nm), is an emerging area of nanoscience and nanotechnology. Nanomaterials may provide solutions to technological and environmental challenges in the areas of solar energy conversion, catalysis, medicine, and water-treatment. The development of techniques for the controlled synthesis of nanoparticles of well defined size, shape and composition, to be used in the biomedical field and areas such as optics and electronics, has become a big challenge. Development of reliable and eco-friendly processes for synthesis of metallic nanoparticles is an important step in the field of application of nanotechnology. One of the most exciting research areas in modern nano-science and technology is the interaction between inorganic molecules and biological structures. It is well established now that many organisms can produce inorganic materials either on intra- or extra-cellular level. In order to meet the growing demand of nanoparticles, eco-friendly methods for nanomaterials synthesis need to be developed which are free of using toxic chemicals in the synthesis protocol[11-13]. In addition to gold and silver nanoparticles, semiconductors such as CdS, ZnS, and PbS have been greatly focused on. Development of protocols for the synthesis of such semiconductors (the so-called quantum dots) is growing. These luminescent quantum dots are emerging as a new class of materials for biological detection and cell imaging, based on the conjugation of semiconducting quantum dots and biorecognition molecules. Fluorescent nanoparticles (CdS, CdSe, CdTe and etc.) can be used for conjugation of biomolecules instead of organic fluoroprobes such as peptides, antibodies and nucleic acids. Moreover, different electronic catalytic and optical behaviour of CdS and NPs have been investigated before. Also, CdS nanoparticles are used for cancer diagnosis and treatment. CdS is immensely used in field effect transistors, solar cells, light emitting diodes, photocatalysis, photoluminescence, infrared photodetector, environmental sensors and biological sensors [14-18]. 3.1. Characterization of synthesized Cadmium Sulfide nanoparticles 3.1.1. UV-Visible spectrophotometer Purified CdS nanoparticles were dried at 30  ºC for 4 h. The dried particles were dispersed in deionized water and were measured using a UV–Visible spectrophotometer (CARY,100Conc, UV Pharma spec1700 with a resolution of 0.72 nm and optical path length of 1 cm) in the wavelength range of 300-600 nm (Fig. 1). The maximum absorption was at 400-450 nm in UV-Visible spectroscopy. 3.1.2. FT-IR and XRD analysis Purification of CdS nanoparticles was carried out according to the method previously described. For FT-IR and XRD analysis, samples were dried. Freezing-drying method was used for this step. First, the samples were frozen at -20 ºC for 24 h and then dried at -37 ºC temperature for 10h with Freeze-drier system(CHRist,ALPHA 1-4LD). The obtained dried sample was subjected to FT-IR spectrum (Fig. 3) using Fourier Transform IR spectrophotometer (NEXUS, Germany). The phase formation and purity of CdS nanoparticles were checked by recording the powder XRD patterns (Fig. 2) using an XDL 3000 powder X-ray diffractometer(SEIFERT, 3003  PTS). The X-ray diffracted intensities were recorded from 10à ¢- ¦ to 80à ¢- ¦ 2ÃŽ ¸ angles. FTIR studies revealed that amino  groups bound to particles account for the stability of NPs. Also FTIR studies established the existence of protein as the stabilizing and capping agent. 3.1.3. EDS ( Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy) In order to determine the elemental composition of the synthesized nanoparticles, EDS spectrum was recorded. In the recorded EDS spectrum, strong signals showed the presence of Cd and S (Fig. 4). This confirms that the nanoparticles are made of CdS alone. EDS spectrum was recorded based on the micrographs measurements focusing on clusters of the nanoparticles. Resulting EDS spectrum from purified and dried CdS nanoparticle was shown in (Fig. 4). This figure also shows the signals from Cd and S elements from other metals. In the analysis of CdS nanoparticles by energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) (LEO 440i, OXFORD), the presence of elemental CdS signal was confirmed. The CdS nanocrystallites display an optical absorption band peaking at 3-4 keV, which is the typical absorption of metallic CdS nanocrystallites due to the surface plasmon resonance. 3.1.4. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) (model EM 208 Philips) was used to determine the morphology and shape of nanoparticles. Purified CdS nanoparticles from extra-cellular culture supernatant using centrifugation was characterized by TEM. TEM revealed the average size of particles as 100 nm. TEM images show that they are relatively uniform in diameter and have spherical shape. The different fractions obtained on a continuous sucrose gradient were analyzed. (Fig. 5) shows a representative TEM image recorded from the drop-coated film of the CdS nanoparticles synthesized by treating the CdCl2 and Na2S solution with culture supernatants of E. coli PTCC 1330. The particle size histogram of CdS particles (Fig. 5) shows that the particles range in size from 5 to 200 nm and possess an average size of 75.5 nm. In addition, the TEM image shows at least two different areas, one with higher contrast due to the CdS nanoparticles and other with lower contrast probably due to other micro (or even nano) crystals originating from insoluble Cd, S salts. 24 h (particles at higher resolution shown by scale bar of a:100 nm, b:200nm). 4. Conclusions Bacterial strain of Escherichia coli PTCC 1330, studied in the present research, can be used in order to biologycal synthesizer of Cadmium Sulfide Nanoparticles under special conditions of Time, pH, Temperature, grow of the organism, concentration of CdCl2 and Na2S. The synthesis of nanoparticle circles around enzyme phytochelatin synthase, which exists in surface of E. coli. This enzyme has been previously used for in vitro synthesis CdS nanoparticle under special conditions . The enzyme catalyzes the reaction of transpeptidation of c-Glu-Cys dipeptide from a GSH molecule to a second molecule of GSH. Thus, phytochelatin synthase enzyme may be involved in the synthesis of CdS nanoparticles. Acknowledgments We would like to express our gratitude to the laboratory of Microbiology, Science and Research Branch of Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran for its support of this work. We also wish to thank Dr. A. Akhavansepahy, Faculty of Science, North Branch of Islamic Azad university, Tehran, Iran and Dr. M. R. Fazeli, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran university of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran for their useful advices and supports.

Gay Rights: Homosexuals Deserve the same Rights as Heterosexuals Essay

Homosexual people do not want to have special privileges. They just want to have the same rights as heterosexuals, nothing more, and nothing less. Homosexuals are a growing minority with nearly a million gays and lesbians identifying themselves as members of same-sex couples in the 2000 census. But the total gay population is much larger, since the census didn’t provide an opportunity for single homosexuals to identify their sexual orientation, and didn’t count gay couples who live apart (Mason 1). There are no legitimate reasons why homosexuals should not have the same rights as heterosexuals. Our country disgraces itself when it â€Å"[†¦] accepts homosexuality as a sufficient cause for deprivation of normal civil rights [†¦]† (Nava, Dawidoff 144). If a homosexual is United States citizen, they should receive the same rights as all other citizens, regardless of their sexual orientation. Gay men and lesbians deserve the right to marry, to not be discri minated against, and to be in the military. Marriage is ever changing. Wives are now equal rather than subordinate partners; interracial marriage is now widely accepted; and marital failure itself, rather than the fault of one partner, may be grounds for a divorce (Stoddard 32). With all of these changes would it not be accurate to say that legalizing and recognizing same-sex marriages is the next step? Marriage is more than a commitment to love one another. â€Å"Aside from societal and religious conventions, marriage entails legally imposed financial responsibility and legally authorized financial benefits. Marriage provides automatic legal protections for the spouse, including medical visitation, succession of a deceased spouse’s property, as well as pension and other rights† (Stoddard 4... ...cause there is no law stating it is illegal, but 48 states, all but Vermont and Hawaii, will not acknowledge a gay marriage. If a homosexual is United States citizen, they should receive the same rights as all other citizens, regardless of their sexual orientation. Gay men and lesbians deserve the right to marry, to not be discriminated against, and to be in the military. Does it seem fair to keep all homosexuals from what they justly deserve? References Jackson, Benjamin. â€Å"Anti-homosexual Crime†. Pages 1-2. Southern Poverty Law Center. 2002. Mason, Margie. â€Å"Census Figures on Same-Sex Couples†. Page 1. www.speakout.com. 8/8/01 Nava, Michael, and Robert Dawidoff. â€Å"The Ick Factor: Yes†. Taking Sides. Pages 144-151. 1994. Stoddard, Thomas. â€Å"Gay Marriage: Make Them Legal†. Current Issues and Enduring Questions. Pages 31 – 52. Bedford Books. Boston. 1996

Is the glass half empty or half full? Essay

An optimist will view a half filled cup as half-full, while a pessimist sees it as half empty. Happiness is water, while humans are the cups. Humans tend to either strive get a full cup for themselves, or they help others filling their cups while disregarding their own happiness. This is where a compromise comes in, where both cup and water must balance. Since it is very unlikely to get what is preferred most of the time, it is essential to balance the whole time. In The Great Gatsby written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Jay Gatsby finds himself in a predicament. The only motive he has in life is to marry his true love. He must choose money or love. People will lose their happiness to others, or try to take it all for themselves. Until an individual can make compromises, they will struggle with life. The main character Jay Gatsby has only been pursuing only his happiness. Gatsby looks at the ground and â€Å"sees the blocks of the sidewalk really formed a ladder, and mounted in a secret place above the trees – he could climb to his if he climbed alone and once there he could suck on the pap of life, gulp down the incomparable milk of wonder.† This shows Gatsby’s character, as he can imprint his fantasies in the real world, on such a mundane object of life, the sidewalk. Only Gatsby can see it because only he can climb the ladder into the upper class, he cannot take Daisy with him. Once he is up there, he can maintain his ignorance of life and maintains his god-like complex in his mindless dream. This is a good example of a metaphor for life as pap means lacking substance or real value. He has to choose between his happiness or status. Jay’s friend Meyer Wolfsheim played with the faith of fifty million people, like a burglar blowing a safe. One single p erson affected fifty million people. The narrator Nick Carraway is the only poor main character who lives on the pair of Eggs. Nick rents, Gatsby buys, and the Buchannan’s inherent. When Nick is offered a small job by Gatsby, he chooses to refuse. This could have bolstered his income and his happiness. Nick disapproved of Gatsby from the beginning to the end. Yet he aided and provided support to Gatsby with his wild plans. The only way Nick could escape his life was to get drunk. He gets drunk in Myrtle’s apartment and has lots of fun. During one of Gatsby’s parties, Nick took two fingerbowls of champagne, and â€Å"the scene had changed before my eyes into something significant elemental and profound.† Alcohol is his way out of this world, and this is one of the things he does not admit to. At one of the parties the woman under the white plum tree, symbolizing purity is accompanied by a famous director. The director works his way up and kisses her. She does not pull back from the early signs of sexual misconduct, which shows us that the rich are not pure and want to keep ascending, even by resorting to sexual acts. Nick was going to berate Tom for such irresponsible behavior, then realized he was talking to a spoiled child. Nick reflects on the situation and comments, â€Å"I couldn’t forgive him or like [Tom], but I saw what he had done was to him, highly justified.† Nick sees that the rich are very irresponsible and careless and leave the poor to suffer. This cycle continues on and on, it will never stop unless everyone is equal, which will never happen due to human nature. The only way for everyone to have equal amounts of happiness is if it is shared. Some of the thing that prevents this is when people either take away all of their happiness to give to someone else, causing an imbalance which may shape a person for the worst, which is known as spoiling them. If the opposite occurs, where one person takes all of the joy and leaves the consequences to someone else, everyone suffers, and nothing good ever comes out of it. As Nick Carraway once said, â€Å"Laughter is easier, minute by minute, spilled with prodigality tipped by a cheerful world.†

Lowprotein

Not all naturally occurring metals are used by the body for important biological processes. Lead and cadmium are examples of these metals that are not essential for life but may even cause toxicity and death if taken in large doses. A study conducted in Japan showed a correlation between protein intake with the increased vulnerability for intoxication of cadmium (Tavari 1986). Rats given a low protein diet were observed to have higher toxicity from these metals that were also detected in the urine and feces (Suzuki 1984).   A low protein diet in humans is usually advised to those with kidney and liver diseases and as a result, this negative effect of higher metal toxicity is important to understand. Metals act by binding to organic compounds subsequently altering their structure and possibly modifying their function. When the function in not carried out well, this can lead to cell death and inactivation of the production of important enzymes (â€Å"Metals as toxins†). For instance, a metal compound can compete with a biologically significant element such as oxygen to create an enzyme responsible for degrading glucose. If this metal successfully defeats oxygen, the enzyme may not be produced; thus, glucose will not be degraded and possibly accumulated. This is a simple example of what a metal can do to the body. In the case of normal protein intake, the body has enough proteins that can bind to harmful compounds such as metals. Similar to the action of a lock and key, a specific protein can complex with damaging bioelements and then excrete them outside the body to prevent possible internal damage. Metallothionein specifically works as a chelating agent and combines itself with cadmium, for example and is excreted out of the body while Selenium, a protein abundantly found in egg whites, suppresses the toxic effect of metals (â€Å"Metals as toxins†). A low protein intake thus, have a significant effect in resulting to high levels of cadmium and lead in the blood since most protein clearly function in sweeping out these harmful metals by binding with them and then carrying them out of the body. References â€Å"Metals as toxins.† Retrieved August 11, 2007, from http://www.portfolio.mvm.ed.ac.uk/studentwebs/session2/group29/introtox.htm Suzuki, K.T., Miyamoto, E., Tanaka, Y. Kawamura, R. and Yamamura, M. (1984). Effect of diet on urinary and fecal excretion of cadmium, copper and zinc from rats preaccumulated heavily with cadmium. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, vol. 13 no.5. Retrieved August 11, 2007, from www.springerlink.com/index/J456157JVU87212T.pdf Tavari, P.C., Jain, V.K., Ashquin, M. and Tandon, S.K. (1986). Influence of protein deficiency on cadmium toxicity in rats. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, vol.15 no.4. Retrieved August 11, 2007, from www.springerlink.com/index/G88L4P84417XT467.pdf      

Sacco And Vanzetti Essays - Anti-communism In The United States

Sacco And Vanzetti Essays - Anti-communism In The United States Sacco And Vanzetti The case of Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti was not about the justice system blaming them for murdering two people, but rather how the justice system murdered two people and got away with it. Throughout the trial the public withdrew from their anti-radical thinking to more of a sympathetic understanding of another human being, no matter their beliefs. World-wide interest was quickly turned to the ill-fated Sacco and Vanzetti. While the judge and prosecution had already delivered the verdict in their minds, Sacco and Vanzetti proclaimed and defended their innocence even till the very end. Before the crime ever took place Sacco worked at the Milford Shoe Factory as an edge trimmer. Sacco was a hard worker; who supported his wife, Rosa, and his son, Dante. Vanzetti worked as a fish peddler. In May 1917, both left their jos to go to Mexico and avoid the draft. Both Sacco and Vanzetti had the same views which were considered radical at the time; therefore they did not advertise them. Understandably, they feared for their safety as well as their friends and families who shared the same ideals (Feuerlicht 11). Although some had suspected that they were of radical ideology, it was not publicaly announced. Having avoided the draft, Sacco and Vanzetti returned from Mexico. Upon their return, organizations and federal agents started to investigate. On April 15, 1920 there was a payroll robbery of the Slater & Morrill Shoe Company. Two men were killed and $15,773. 59 missing. These crimes happened in South Braintree Massachusetts and became known as the Braintree Crimes. There were two people that attacked and killed the payroll employees, then grabbed the money and took off in the escape car. The escape car was described as a black Buick with other partners inside. Eyewitnesses claimed that two of the criminals looked Italian (Altman 70). Crimes like this had been common at the time and had only sparked local interest (DAttilio). It was not until Sacco and Vanzetti were in the courtroom facing charges of murder and robbery, that the Braintree Crimes would become a publicized affair. Sacco and Vanzetti were arrested on May 5, 1920 for the murders and robberies that took place three weeks earlier. They both were anarchistic, atheist, draft dodgers, immigrants, and neither could speak English well (Fabulous 26). This undoubtedly made them an easy target. When questioned they both lied creating a consciousness of guilt in the eyes of the prosecutors and judge (DAttilio). Another aspect that did not help Sacco and Vanzetti were their alibis. Although both had an alibi, their witnesses often could not remember much about the day in question other than they defiantly saw the defendants. Saccos alibi rested on his repeated attempt to get passports to Italy to see his family. Vanzetti was allegedly selling fish and visiting some friends (Montgomery 142-155, 131-141). Percy Katzmann, the prosecutor, had given both a difficult time with the questioning. He used their lack of English skills against them and often twisted their words around. Although Moore, the defendants lawyer would object to this, Judge Thayer would allow it to continue and often encourage it. Judge Thayer was unprofessional by making rude comments during and out of court. He would refer to Sacco and Vanzetti as Dagoes never referring to them as Italians (Feuerlight 202). He would also talk about the case outside of court and brag to others saying Did you see what I did with those anarchistic bastards the other day? I guess that will hold them for a while. (Feuerlight 306). Not only was his behavior questionable, but the fact that he was the judge of the case was questionable, since he had just sentenced Vanzetti for another case a few weeks prior. Fortunately for Sacco and Vanzetti, their lawyer was dedicated and fought for their freedom. Moore raised awareness to the trial worldwide. Supporters protested for Sacco and Vanzettis freedom. After six weeks of trial Sacco and Vanzetti were found guilty of murder and robbery. Though they were found guilty, their lawyer still fought for appeals and continued to spend money on propaganda. Since the anarchist movement had been paying for the trial and all the spending that Moore was doing, they fired him. Moore was replaced in 1924 by William Thompson (DAttillio). Thompson made appeal after appeal, and more and more evidence proving Sacco and Vanzettis innocence surfaced as he fought for an appeal. On November 16, 1925 a man in sitting in Dedham Jail

HP essays

HP essays Hewlett-Packard Company (HP) provides IT products and solutions covering infrastructure, personal computing and access devices, imaging and printing. HP trades on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and trades under the symbol HPQ. HP recorded revenues of $73.1 billion during fiscal year ended October 2003, an increase of 29.1% over fiscal 2002. The increase is mainly due to the acquisition of Compaq. This is considered to be the largest merger integration in the history of our industry (Fiorina, 2003 HP Annual Report) The Balance Sheet analysis will consist of three parts. I will first analyze HPs liabilities, followed by equity, and finally, assets will be discussed. Current Liabilities and Long Term Debt Hps Current liabilities have increased over a three year period. Mainly, this is due the Compaq merger. Taking a closer look at how current liabilities are disclosed we can see that this increase is due mainly on an increase in Accounts payable and Other Accrued liabilities. As we can see from the following exhibit we can see a decreased in other current liability accounts. Current liabilities: 2003 2002 Change Notes payable and short-term borrowings 1,080 1,793 Decrease Accounts payable 9,285 7,012 Increase Employee compensation and benefits 1,755 2,012 Increase Taxes on earnings 1,599 1,529 Increase Deferred revenue 3,657 3,260 Increase Accrued restructuring 709 1,309 Decrease Other accrued liabilities 8,545 7,395 Increase Total current liabilities 26,630 24,310 Increase Employee compensations have been reduced by $247 million. This is because HP historically used stock options and other forms of equity-related compensation as key components of their total rewards employee compensation program in order to align employees interests with the interests of the stockholders, encourag ...

Collecting Data for the Problem Behavior

Collecting Data for the Problem Behavior When you are writing an FBA (Functional Behavior Analysis) you will need to collect data. There are three kinds of information you will be choosing: Indirect Observational Data, Direct Observational Data, and if possible, Experimental Observational Data. A true Functional Analysis will include an Analogue Condition Functional Analysis. Dr. Chris Borgmeier of Portland State University has made a number of helpful forms available online to use for this data collection. Indirect Observational Data: The first thing to do is to interview parents, classroom teachers and others who have had ongoing responsibility for supervising the child in question. Be sure that you give each stakeholder the functional description of the behavior, to be sure it is the behavior you are seeing. You will want to explore instruments for collecting this information.  Many questionnaire formats evaluative forms are designed for parents, teachers and other stakeholders to create observational data that can be used to support student success.   Direct Observation Data You will need to determine what kinds of data do you need. Does the behavior appear frequently, or is it the intensity that is frightening? Does it seem to occur without warning? Can the behavior be redirected, or does it intensify when you intervene? If the behavior is frequent, you will want to use a frequency or scatter plot tool. A frequency tool can be a partial interval tool, that records how frequently a behavior appears during a finite period. The results will be X occurrences per hour. A scatter plot can help identify patterns in the occurrence of behaviors. By pairing certain activities with the occurrence of behaviors, you can identify both antecedents and possibly the consequence that is reinforcing the behavior. If the behavior lasts a long time, you may want a duration measure. The scatter plot may give you information about when it happens, a duration measure will let you know how long a behavior tends to last. You will also want to make an ABC observational form available for any people who are observing and collecting the data.  At the same time, be sure you have operationalized the behavior, describing the behaviors topography so each observer is looking for the same thing.  This is called inter-observer reliability.   Analogue Condition Functional Analysis You may find that you can identify the antecedent and consequence of behavior with direct observation. Sometimes to confirm it, an Analogue Condition Functional Analysis would be helpful. You need to set up the observation in a separate room. Set up a play situation with neutral or preferred toys. You then proceed to insert one variable at a time: a request to do work, removal of a favored item or you leave the child alone. If the behavior appears when you are present in a neutral setting, it may be automatically reinforcing. Some children will hit themselves in the head because they are bored, or because they have an ear infection. If the behavior appears when you leave, it is most likely for attention. If the behavior appears when you ask the child to do an academic task, it is for avoidance. You will want to record your results, not only on paper but perhaps also on a videotape. Time to Analyze! Once you have collected enough information, you will be ready to move on to your analysis, which will focus on the ABC of the behavior (Antecedent, Behavior, Consequence.)

PARALLEL ALGORITHM FOR MULTI-DIMENSIONAL MATRIX MULTIPLICATION Research Paper

PARALLEL ALGORITHM FOR MULTI-DIMENSIONAL MATRIX MULTIPLICATION OPERATIONS REPRESENTATION USING KARNAUGH MAP - Research Paper Example The basic concept EKMR is to transform the multi-dimensional array in to a set of two-dimensional arrays. EKMR scheme implies Karnaugh Map which is a technique used to reduce a Boolean expression. It is commonly represented with the help of a rectangular map which holds all the possible values of the Boolean expression. Then the efficient data parallel algorithms for multi-dimensional matrix multiplication operation using EKMR are presented in this study which outperformed those data parallel algorithms for multi-dimensional matrix multiplication operation which used the TMR scheme. The study encourages designing data parallel algorithms for multi-dimensional dense and sparse multi-dimensional arrays for other operations as well using the EKMR scheme since this scheme produces the efficient performance for all dimensions and for all operations of the arrays. Multi-dimensional arrays which are also referred as tensors or n-ways arrays are usefully applied to a wide range of studies or methods such as climate modeling, finite element analysis (FEA), molecular dynamic and many more but still many issues have been encountered regarding efficient operations of these multi-dimensional arrays. Most of the proposed methods are successful in case of two-dimensional arrays which do not show accurate results when applied to the extended form of tensors. This occurred due to the traditional matrix representation (TMR) which is an array representation scheme that is commonly used to represent the multi-dimensional dense or sparse array. Dense and sparse are the two categories of the array form which are provided through the various data parallel programming languages [2] for instance, Vienna Fortran, High Performance Fortran, etc. If all or most of the array elements are non-zero values then it is called a dense array. On the other hand, if most of the elements of the array are zero then it is called a sparse array. When an operation is applied

Comparing two poems Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Comparing two poems - Essay Example death. Death is the point where the similarities end. Even though, both poems were composed within the period of less than a year by the same poet, their stream of thought and basic ideas about what happens after death vary. In one of the poems, there becomes visible to be life after death, but in the other, there is nothing. In the poem "I Heard a Fly Buzz - When I Died" the first line "I heard a Fly buzz - when I died" transpires an immense implications. First and the foremost significance is this that the poem is in the first person. This is an indication of the fact that the narrator has already tasted the fruit of death and is unfolding the experience. Therefore, what is written must be of some truth. Also the fact that the narrator was concentrating on a fly rather than anything else when she was on her deathbed sets the mood of a calm and ordinary scene. In the poem "Because I Could Not Stop For Death" Dickinson is repeating this convention of writing in the first person and s he also inaugurates the scene in a much untailored type of style. She affirms in this poem that death arrived to pick her up in a carriage and "The Carriage held but just ourselves - And Immortality". This reveals that once again, in this case, death is as an ordinary a thing as taking a carriage ride with a friend or a beau rather than being a dreadful tribulation with a great amount of pain. As for death being described as civil or as being polite and is taken by his good manners. Then compare this to what people think death would really be like, a mean ugly old man that jerks off and doesn't give you the time of day. Therefore, Dickinson views death as just a peaceful thing where one doesn't exactly know what is going on but nonetheless is not overly upset to be there. Dickinson's strong inquisitiveness towards mortality was involved in much of her work, and is her heritage as a poet. "Because I could Not Stop for Death" is Emily Dickinson's most elaborated, quoted and referenced famous poem due to its vague, and exceptional view on the popular subject of death. Death, in this poem is mentioned as a woman's last voyage, which is goaled toward perpetuity. This poem proves to be a facilitator in characterizing and bringing death down to a more private level. Distinguishing from the more accepted notions of death being atrocious and brutal, Dickinson, in her peculiar way, gives the impression that death is unreceptive and trouble-free. Since, the theme of the poem is death, which to the poetess is usual and inescapable for everyone, but, simultaneously offering console that it is not the conclusion of a soul's journey. Rather, it is continuing. The reader can identify the poem's theme by evaluating its various tools which are figures of speech, form and structure, imagery, voice, diction and more than all these symbolism; all of these techniques and tools help the reader to comprehend the poem's meaning. The precise form that Dickinson uses throughout the poem helps convey her message to the reader. The poem is written in five quatrains. The way in which each stanza is written in a quatrain gives the poem unity and makes it easy to read. "Because I Could Not Stop for Death" starts to gives the reader a feeling of forward movement throughout the second and third quatrain. For example, in line 5, Dickinson

Power within the United States congress Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Power within the United States congress - Essay Example In contrast to popular belief, the Congress and presidents have always been at loggerheads. This is because on numerous occasions the Senate, House of Representatives are controlled by different parties. Over the years, the Democrats have had a considerable advantage over the Republic with regards to this control. The above section clearly shows there are serious issues relating to the balance of power between the Congress and the Office of the President. There should be a clear definition of duties to minimize conflicts between the president and the congress (Denhardt et al., 2013). Secondly, they should meet on a regular basis to ensure that they are on the same page with regards to public policy as well legislation. Thirdly, there should be effective communication between the two parties to minimize conflict. Finally, the parties should work towards achieving the greatest benefits for the citizens. The above mentioned strategies can be employed to solve the issues relating to the balance of power (Heady, 2001). To start with, the clear definition of duties means that each of the parties will perform the tasks that they are required to with minimal conflict. Secondly, the regular meetings ensure that the two parties compare their duties and activities on a regular basis. Thirdly, effective communication ensures that any issues are dealt with on a timely basis (Schickler, 2001). Finally, when both parties work for the greatest benefit of the people there will be fewer conflicts since both work towards achieving similar goals. This entails the composition of the congress based on the political party membership. In the 113th parliament, between 2013 and 2015, there were a total of 100 members in the senate. Fifty four members are from the Democratic Party, Forty five members are from the Republic party and one member is from another party that is classified as others

Modern - Postmodern Art PowerPoint Presentation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Modern - Postmodern Art - PowerPoint Presentation Example The essay "Modern - Postmodern Art" investigates modern and postmodern art. Art was more a part of an instrument for magic. Certain Madonnas remain veiled through out the year. Keeping these idols away from the public view enhanced their ritualistic cult value. The exhibition value of the work of art displaced the cult value only later. It was photography of all modern arts that made this displacement complete. Lascaux paintings seen in the Lascaux caves in Southwestern France are Paleolithic paintings as old as 17300 years. The images are that of animals, human figures and abstract signs. The researchers point out that these images are spiritual in nature and relate to the visions of ritualistic trance dances. They represent the past success in hunting and also constitute prayers for the success of the future hunting efforts .All these show that these paintings were not meant for public exhibition. So the act of opening the caves to the public in 1948 it self can be considered in a sense, as failing the very purpose of the creation of these painting. Hence the closing down of the caves cannot be considered as a crime against the art lovers. Modern or post modern art lover is more a consumer of art than a connoisseur of art. He thus will not be much worried about whether he is viewing the original or the duplicate. The concept of the original has become a myth in the modern society. From the negative of a photograph one can take as many prints as one needs. The question of the original does not arise at all.

Report Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 3

Report - Assignment Example ly reduce its cost burden and be reflected in affordable prices that will act as a competitive measure against other global corporations (Wintzer 56). In regard to its quarterly performance snapshots, it is advisable that the firm would enjoy competitive advantage by diversifying in terms of its products. This would significantly cushion it against loses from other products due to tastes and seasonal demand disparities. There is seemingly a regional difference in terms of revenue and costs which can majorly be attributed to tax policies and other government regulations. For this firm to remain competitive and command greater market size in year 11, the management needs to reorganize its regional inventory size (Wintzer 96). This would mean that the company concentrate much of its sales effort to developed economies but shift much of its value creation processes in developing economies with cheap labor and raw materials. The global performance overview indicates positive outcome in terms of the firm’s shares pricing. This sets a good pace for overall rating of the firm in comparison to its other competitors. It would only be advisable that the company focus on more equity financing than debt financing to boost its security and restore faith of the shareholders thereby competing favorably with other companies in the industry in year

Thesis driven essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

Thesis driven - Essay Example Through the Allegory of the Cave, in his work The Republic, Plato describes the position of unenlightened man, and 24 centuries later, the main hero of Wachowski Brothers’ movie The Matrix, hacker Neo, makes his way from the Cave towards enlightenment. According to Plato, human is caved in his/ her regular and familiar environment. He/ she does not ask questions, and does not will to change own life in more real and true way. Despite the ever-present possibility to start those changes, which Plato vividly describes as a light from the ideal world behind one’s back, most of the humans prefer to keep living in their familiar world of illusions, which is only a poor projection, a shadow of the ideal world. Unenlightened and delusioned man is a prisoner of his/ her own illusions. In Wachowski Brothers’ movie, the Matrix is a platform for humans’ illusions. Morpheus describes it as â€Å"the loading program†, â€Å"the construct for simulations† (The Matrix). Most of the people live in a common simulation, which is determined by AI. As Plato predicted, a more powerful â€Å"brain†, AI, had excelled human’s intelligence, and because the machine has no notion of morality, AI uses humankind brutally, but rationally for own benefit. The image of a caved unenlightened man is almost literally illustrated in the movie, especially in the scene, where Neo wakes up in a capsule and find himself to be a caved, but in a rather modern and more technical way. He is a part of high-technical mechanism, where Plato’s chains are cables and leads. They chain Neo’s whole body, but what’s the most important, they chain Neo’s brain. The familiar environment looks dark and grey now, and very similar to the Cave. Morpheus says, this darkness was made by humans (The Matrix). To get free from AI control, and to get out of the capsule, Neo symbolically bursts those cables and leads, and find himself confused and

Report Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 3

Report - Assignment Example ly reduce its cost burden and be reflected in affordable prices that will act as a competitive measure against other global corporations (Wintzer 56). In regard to its quarterly performance snapshots, it is advisable that the firm would enjoy competitive advantage by diversifying in terms of its products. This would significantly cushion it against loses from other products due to tastes and seasonal demand disparities. There is seemingly a regional difference in terms of revenue and costs which can majorly be attributed to tax policies and other government regulations. For this firm to remain competitive and command greater market size in year 11, the management needs to reorganize its regional inventory size (Wintzer 96). This would mean that the company concentrate much of its sales effort to developed economies but shift much of its value creation processes in developing economies with cheap labor and raw materials. The global performance overview indicates positive outcome in terms of the firm’s shares pricing. This sets a good pace for overall rating of the firm in comparison to its other competitors. It would only be advisable that the company focus on more equity financing than debt financing to boost its security and restore faith of the shareholders thereby competing favorably with other companies in the industry in year

Business ethics Essay Example for Free

Business ethics Essay Introduction Todays world is continually shrinking due to many factors, not the least of which is the rapid growth of international business. Four specific interlinking phenomena are occurring which present new problems to international business: a) the increase in offshore banking transactions; b) the continuing growth of multinational corporations (MNCs); c) the increasing instances of outsourcing business activities offshore and d) the equally increasing instances of locating and using suppliers of goods and services in developing countries. All four of these phenomena are fueled by economics and they show no sign of abating anytime soon. Two aspects dealt in this paper are: a) the existence of perceived corruption in international business, including graft, kickbacks and preferential treatment and b) workplace conditions that are considered unethical by generally accepted world standards. There are many other aspects of international business which lend themselves to ethical examination, but they are not appropriate here. The approach taken is to examine some of the principal ethical philosophies of the last two hundred years in relation to international business, as follows: a) Immanuel. Kants Categorical Imperative; b) early mercantilist philosophies; c) Distributive Justice; d) Ethical Relativism; e) Integrative Social Contracts Theory; f) Virtue Ethics; g) Confucian and Islamist ethics and h) pragmatic approaches to international business ethics. Then, by way of local comparisons, several local national situations are presented in order to clarify the problem. Finally, in order to address workplace ethics specifically, the SA 8000 Social Accountability standard is presented and analyzed as one approach to remedy a widely recognized situation which required positive attention. Furtherj this standard is presented as a possible entry point toward developing a customer/supplier dialogue which may hole the promise of formulating a wholly new code of international business ethics, not simply another Western concept grafted onto the developing world. 1 Key ethical theories and concepts Kants categorical imperative: Immanuel Kants Categorical Imperative has become a mainstay in the study of ethics for the past two hundred years and has stimulated a considerable amount of both support and objection. His assertion to act only according to maxims which you can will also to be universal laws^^ was seen to be in direct reaction to the relativist philosophies being propagated at that time and can also be seen as a defense of free will which was being called into question as well. Marias^^ points out that Kants purpose was to personalize ethics, not necessarily to institutionalize ethics. Kants ethics describe a moral person; not necessarily a moral society which is a key point in attempting to apply Kantian ethics to our world. Significant problems have been found to exist not within Kants ethics but in its applications. Calder* perceives the lack of degrees of wrongness in Kants Categorical Imperative, stating that this is a major flaw in his ethics. Calders interpretation of Kant is that an act is either right ot wrong in a universal sense, not allowing for varying degrees. This would be a valid objection to Kantian ethics were it not for Kants intention to personalize ethics and to make the individual person responsible for his or her own actions. In this sense, Kants ethics are indeed universal in the sense that each person must decide what is right and what is wrong. An argument could be made that in this sense, Kantian ethics can be applied universally, but with a less than satisfying sense of having identified a code of ethics that would fit like a sort of template over our world. It should also be noted that at the time Kant lived in the late 18 Century, our world was just being discovered as highly diverse. European ethnocentrism was still very much in force and the uncivilized world was seen generally as a very undefined place.The intertwining effects of the growth of world trade, the rapid increases in colonialism and the onset of the industrial revolution stimulated additional efforts to address the people of the world at large. Early mercantilist philosophy: The various mercantilist philosophies which emanated from the growth of colonialism and world trade presented a somewhat different viewpoint to (11)Advances In Management Vol. 5 (3) Mar. (2012) ethics. In the minds of the mercantilists, civil society would contain markets which would be self-regulating and government, business and nonprofit organizations would unite to create social accountability systems which would contain self-enforcing codes of conduct reinforced by the concept of shareholder and stakeholder pressures. These concepts tend to continue to the present day in many business textbooks. However, these early mercantilist philosophies, propounded in the heyday of expansionism by the worlds trading nations, pointedly did not consider what effects mercantilism would have on the rest, of the world. These mercantilist philosophies provided a basis for the development of utilitarian ethics which would become popular in the following century with the writings of Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart MilP^ and which would eventually become the unofficial political philosophy of the British government throughout the colonial years and up to the present day. Distributive Justice: The rapid growth of complex economic systems together with the shrinking of the social world gave birth to the concept of distributive justice. The concept has its origins in David Hume and John Locke and continues today in the writings of modern philosophers John Rawis and Robert Nozick. ^ The internationalization of the world economy has further spurred discussion concerning how distributive justice might be applied to international business. Unlike the ethics of early mercantilist philosophies and classical utilitarianism which both fit uneasily in the world of international business, there has been quite a lot of discussion concerning the ethics of distributive justice in this context. The principal questions tend to revolve around how (or whether) gains from international trade get distributed both within and between countries* and whether or not basic human rights are observed in the practice of international business. This second question has also been expanded to discuss whether international business as a function has the obligation to offer help to the inhabitants of developing countries within which they do business. Both concepts would seem foreign to the mercantilists and would pose awkward questions to the utilitarians. Ethical Relativism: The next logical stage of development in the thinking of international business ethics was termed ethical relativism. To put the best face on it, this concept developed as a realization of the multifaceted cultural and social nature of todays world and of the inherent difficulties todays international business person experiences in attempting to deal with these differences. ^^ However, as many authors have pointed out, ethical relativism can be seen as moral approach to business, using cultural differences as an excuse to practice unethical behavior which might not be acceptable in ones own society. ^ The ethical relativism stage of international business ethics exists but does so in a weakened position due to criticisms leveled against it. Integrative Social Contracts Theory: An effective response to ethical relativism in international business has been a blending of ethical relativism and universally recognized ethical principles at least universally recognized in the Western world into a concept that has become known as integrative social contracts theory (ISCT). -^-* Under this concept, certain universal ethical concepts would provide the basis for an ethical code of conduct for international business with the recognition of the validity of certain local ethical practices with the provision that in the event of conflict between the two, universal ethical principles would take precedence. This blending of ethical concepts satisfied most participants in international business activities but not all. One criticism leveled against ISCT is the problem of using empirical methods to discover and define what the authentic norms of a particular culture might be^. The approach taken by most ISCT practitioners lays open to question the overall effectiveness of a purely empirical approach, subject as it is to misinterpretation and lack of complete knowledge and understanding. As a result, critics of ISCT tend to call for a revival of the universal ethical principles that ISCT has largely replaced, causing discomfort particularly in the developing world which has never been completely comfortable with espousing the universal ethical code of former colonizing powers. Virtue Ethics: One possibility of a usable ethical code is the application of virtue ethics to international business. This concept would formulate ethics based on the moral character of the people involved in international business. Clearly, virtue ethics appeals to those who wish the right thing to be done consistently and studies have attempted to apply the concept to the international business arena. * Virtue ethics has also been proposed as a tool that international organizations could use to fight corruption. Nonetheless, it remains undeniable that virtue ethics is grounded in ones own culture and moral beliefs and would necessarily provide a weak tool to formulate any sort of international business ethics code. Confucian and Islamic ethics applications: One has only to look at the major cultures of the world to discover old and well developed codes of ethics. One such ancient culture China has adhered to Confucian ethical concepts for centuries. Magee^* notes that philosophy, including ethical thought, proceeded in China unhindered by established religions, as was the case in the West and therefore developed a thoughtful ethical philosophy deeply seated in Chinese culture. Yew Chan^*^ points out that while most Confucian ethical thought parallels Western ethical thought, there are some significant divergences. Interestingly, one of the principal differences from the Chinese point of view has to do with the West placing results ahead of ethical concerns. Also, the importance of social harmony which takes on a characteristic of ethics in Confucian culture is emphasized in China while downplayed in the West. (12)Advances In Management Vol. 5 (3) Mar. (2012) Another old and well established body of ethics is found in the Middle East, northern Africa and southeast Asia in the ethical traditions of Islam. The Islamic tradition highly values such concepts as trust and benevolence and makes a major point of including justice and social balance in its code of ethics. Most of these concepts have their basic roots in pre-Islamic Arab culture based in turn on Bedouin culture, but they are reinforced by both the Koran and Sharia. Pragmatic approaches The various conflicts resultant from culture meeting culture in the international business world and the typical result of developed societies coming out on top (with the notable exception of the international petroleum industry) has generated a movement termed the United Nations sustainable development initiative. ^ This convergence of business, political and ethical concerns and interests is the most recent attempt to make things right in the international business world in the face of increasing world poverty and hunger and undeniable global inequality. The most recent ethical solution proposed to begin to set things right internationally is called the language of rights. *,This solution which flnds its roots in distributive justice, identifies the multinational corporation as one of the principle change agents and focuses on the capabilities of all concerned rather than on finding blame. The emphasis is on denning and promoting the positive rights of all concerned. International Business Applications From a practical point of view, however, all of these concepts are somehow found wanting. The realities of wide chasms between the developed world and the developing world which in many instances is not developing at all, relatively speaking tends to make nonsense of any attempts to formulate and superimpose any sort of universal ethical code on the whole world. In the old days of colonialism, the Western powers and Japan simply took what they wanted through dint of force and in the present day of neocolonialism these same powers in the persons of international business carry on that tradition in an updated manner. Appeals to post-conventional moral reasoning, in efforts to induce multinational corporations to develop mature corporate ethics in dealing with developing countries, have met with mixed results. Claims of widespread corruption in international business has stimulated a considerable amount of activity both in academia and in international organizations, although strong arguments have been made that bribery and corruption are not cultural characteristics, as they have so often been called, but symptoms of cultural breakdowns under the pressures of a malfunctioning economy. The local gift-giving customs in some cultures has been thoroughly examined and seem to be finally recognized as local custom and not necessarily as a form of graft. ^ One viewpoint sparsely practiced in the search for some resolution of the international business ethics conundrum is viewing business practices from the perspectives of other cultures. Both Confuciani. st and Islamic ethical systems were very briefly noted above and cases drawn from the business experiences of people from a few speciflc countries are now examined by way of comparison in order to better understand the cultural diversity in todays international business environment. Post-apartheid South Africa presents an interesting case study as the only developed economy on the African continent and as the principal trading partner of many African countries. South Africa also presents a model for global multinational corporations in how to deal effectively with developing economies. ^ Through a mixed strategy of business promotion and social involvement in these countries and by limited political involvement with government ministries. South Africa has developed a favorable reputation throughout most of sub-Saharan Africa by remaining pragmatic in dealing with local custom. Within that region, Nigeria has developed a version of virtue ethics based on a communitarian notion of ethics which seems to work well for Nigerian businesses. ^^ Considering that Nigeria is the most economically successful of the black sub-Saharan economies and is the dominant force in West Africa, this application of communitarianism is having a positive effect on its culturally similar neighbors and holds out hope for a type of regional ethical code in business. The case of Jordan, a relatively poor country located in the Mashriq area of the Middle East, shows mixed results when business ethics are examined. Similar to other countries in the region, Jordanian businessmen tend to bend their ethical activities toward what is practical under the pressures of reality which makes them not much different than other businessmen throughout the world. However, the active effect of Islamic ethics, as previously noted, has an ameliorating effect on Jordanian business practices. India presents a more interesting ethical picture. ^* While being largely Hindu in religion with significant minority groups, India is a country comprised of people speaking twenty-six different languages within two large ethnic groups. To consider India as a single culture through which one can examine Indian business ethics would be completely misleading. As a result and considering the existence of under cultures throughout the Indian population, international business performed in India would need to carefully examine the various ethical codes in practice throughout the country in order to understand the culture and begin to apply any sort of integrative social ethical theory. Finally, Australia presents another interesting case study. Australia is a large country approximately the same (13)Advances In Management Vol. 5 (3) Mar. (2012) size as the forty-eight contiguous states in the United States but with the total population of not much more than Los Angeles and Orange Counties in California combined. Rich in natural resources but isolated from the rest of the world by geography, Australia finds itself an essentially Asian country but with a European political, social and cultural tradition. As a result, Australian businessmen have had to learn how to do business with Asian cultures not by choice but of geographic necessity. ^ Adjustments to doing business in Asian cultures has always been a problem for the Australian businessman, particularly when faced with unfamiliar or uncomfortable ethical situations. ^ As a result, Australia can be seen in this sense as a microcosm of what international business people face. Social Accountability International As described above, the applications of ethical codes to international business have been spotty at best. The reasons for this are varied, but seem to have a great deal to do with attempts to formulate universal ethical principles, albeit with the effort to formulate ISCT in order to accommodate at least some local cultural practices that might affect business ethics. A major reason behind this failure may very well be that the various attempts have all been based on Western philosophical thought. Both Confucian and Islamist traditions possess functioning and effective ethical codes which seem to work well in those cultures. In 1997, Social Accountability International (SAI) published Social Accountability 8000, a voluntary standard that attempts to ensure humane workplaces worldwide. The standard was revised and updated in 2001. Rather than using the exhortative approach attempted up until that time by the International Labor Organization (ILO), SA8000 is a frank, open attempt to convince companies that it would be in their best business interests to become registered to this standard. It is based on international workplace norms of ILO conventions, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (saintl. org). It is an auditable certification standard and those companies which pass an initial audit and which also maintain compliance through successful semi-annual surveillance audits are included in a published list of SA 8000-registered companies. Audits are conducted by thirdparty auditing organizations accredited and overseen by Social Accountability Accreditation Services (SAAS). ^ Provisions of SAAS a) Child labor: No workers under the age of 15; minimum lowered to 14 for countries operating under the ILO Convention 138 developing-country exception; b) Forced labor: No forced labor, including prison or debt bondage labor; no lodging of deposits or identity papers by employees or outside recruiters; c) Health and safety: Provide a safe and healthy work environment; take steps to prevent injuries; regular health and safety worker training; system to detect threats to health and safety; access to bathrooms and potable water. d) Freedom of association and right to collective bargaining: Respect the right to form and join trade unions and bargain collectively; where law prohibits these freedoms, facilitate parallel means of association and bargaining; e) Discrimination: No discrimination based on race, caste, origin, religion, disability, gender, sexual orientation, union or political affiliation, or age; No sexual harassment; f) Discipline: No corporal punishment, mental or physical coercion or verbal abuse; g) Working hours: Comply with the applicable law but in any event, no more than 48 hours per week with at least one day off for every seven day period; voluntary overtime paid as a premium rate and not to exceed 12 hours per week on a regular basis; overtime may be mandatory if part of a collective bargaining agreement; h) Compensation: Wages paid for a standard work, week must meet the legal and industry standards and be sufficient to meet the basic need of workers and their families; no disciplinary reductions; i) Management systems: Facilities seeking to gain and maintain certification must go beyond simple compliance to integrate the standard into their management systems and practices. The SA 8000 standard is a rather obvious carrot-andstick approach to flght the more blatant workplace abuses by creating a type of international honor roll of companies which have successfully undergone certification. Its introduction was greeted by a mixed reception^ amid fears that it was just another expensive piece of bureaucracy. However, within a few years the value of the SA 8000 standard was becoming apparent. Further, studies have shown that successful implementation of this standard as well as other similar standards have had the effect of improved international business in developing countries. The SA 8000 approach admittedly does not address all ethical concerns inherent in international business but it does address what can be considered the heart of the problem by attempting to bring workplace conditions in line with generally accepted international standards. As discussed, the issues of corruption in the exercise of international business are being addressed in part by the application of cultural ethical standards, such as Confucian and Islamist practices and the more heinous practices have been so roundly (14)Advances In Management r Vol. 5 (3) Mar. (2012) condemned that they are either fading away or have been made well-publicized examples throughout the world. The hope is if workplace conditions can be brought up to an acceptable level, then the concept of discourse ethics can be put in play under which multinational corporations in partnership with their developing country suppliers can provide a theoretical justification for opening and maintaining a moral discourse which can then establish and mutually maintain ethical principles based on agreement and cooperation. ^ This would be a truly revolutionary development and one which would create a wholly new code of international business ethics involving the customer and the supplier as cooperating partners. Conclusion In the wake of Enron, Tyco and other recent scandals which have severely shaken the publics faith in our business leaders, corporate social responsibility (CSR) has emerged as a serious topic of discussion in the business world. ^Â ° In addition, the popularity of such recent and graphic films as Lord of War, concerning arms dealing in Africa, Blood Diamond, also concerning this topic in Africa and The Constant Gardener, concerning corruption in the international Pharmaceuticals trade and once again in Africa, has raised the publics awareness of business corruption in developing countries. In addition, the rapid movement by Western companies to developing countries as a source of supply based on cheap labor has accentuated the previously invisible problem of working conditions in these areas. ^* Recent health threats concerning tainted pet food and leadbased toys from the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) have served to magnify the situation. American consumers, once complacent concerning the products they bought as long as they were cheap and worked, are becoming more concerned with the quality and inherent safety of these products and a connection seems to have been made in the publics mind with workplace conditions in the countries of origin. The challenge is to keep these issues out in the open until they are resolved. The success of the SA 8000 standard is a good beginning toward instituting a true international discourse which has the potential of creating a new international business code of ethics which all people can buy into and follow a code of ethics which was not exported from developed countries, but one that would truly be an international code of ethics developed in partnership between customer and supplier. Such a mutually developed code of ethics would be-much more easily understood, would stand a much better chance of acceptance because the subjects would also be the formulators and would therefore offer a significantly higher chance of success. References 1. Al-Shaikh F. N. , The practical reality theory and business ethics in non-Westem context: Evidence from Jordan, The Journal of Management Development. 22 (7/8), 679-693 (2003) 2. Beekun R. I. and Badawi J. A. , Balancing ethical responsibility among multiple organizational stakeholders: The Islamic perspective. Journal of Business Ethics. 60 (2), 131-145 (2005) 3. Bendana A. , Shifting Paradigms of thought and power. Development. 47 (1), 22-26 (2004) 4. Beschomer T. and Muller M. , Social standards: Toward an active ethical involvement of businesses in developing countries. Journal of Business Ethics. 73 (1). 11-21 (2007) 5. Bruyn S. T. , The moral economy. Review of Social Economy, 57 (1), 25-46 (1999) 6. Calder T. , Kant and degrees of wrongness. Journal of Value lnquiry. ,39 (2), 229-244 (2005) 7. Chung K. Y. , Ethical perceptions of business students: Differences between East Asia and the USA among Confucian cultures! Journal of Business Ethics. 79 (1/2), 121-133 (2008) 8. Derig Shengliang, A new look at ethics in International business. The International Executive. 34(2), 151-165 (1992) ;l 9. Everett J. , Neu D. and Rahaman A. S. , The global fight against corruption: A Foucaultian, virtues-ethics framing. Journal of Business Ethics. 65 (1), 1-13 (2006) 10. Falkenberg A. W. , When in Rome moral maturity and ethics for international economic organizations. Journal of Business Ethics. 54 (1), 17-32(2004) 11. Flynn G. , The virtuous manager, A vision for leadership in business. Journal of Business Ethics. 78 (3), 359-372 (2008) 12. Gilbert D. U. and Rasche A. , Discourse ethics and social accountability: The ethics of SA 8000, Business Ethics Quarterh, 17 (2), 187-216(2007) 13. Hartman C. L. and Beck-Dudley C. L. , Marketing strategies and the search for virtue: A case analysis of The Body Shop, International Journal of Business Ethics. 20 (3), 249-263 (1999) 14. Hellston S. and Larbi G. A. , Public good or private good? The paradox of public and private ethics in the context of developing countries. Public Administration Development. 26 (2), 135-146 (2006) 15. Hutchings K. and Murray G. , Family, face and favours: Do Australians adjust to accepted business conventions in China? Singapore Management Review. 25 (2), 25-57 (2003) 16. Husted B. W. , A critique of the empirical methods of integratiye social contracts theory. Journal of Business Ethics. 20 (3), 227-236 (1999) 17. Jackson K. T. , Global distributive justice and the corporate duty to aid. Journal of Business Ethics, 12 (7), 547-553 (1993) 18. Kapstein E.B. , Distributing the gains: Justice and international (15)Advances In Management Vol. 5 (3) Mar. (2012) trade. Journal of International Affairs. 52 (2), 533-566 (1999) 19. Lee M. and Ruhe J. A.. Ethical mindsets of Christianity and Confucianism: A comparative study. International Journal of ValueBased Management, 12(1), 13-28(1999) 20. Leonard D. , Strong foundation solid future. Quality Progress, 41 (3), 30-36 (2008) 21. LeVeness F. P. and Primeaux P. D. , Vicarious ethics: Politics, business and sustainable development. Journal of Business Ethics, 51(2). 185-197(2004) 22. Limbs E. C. and Fort T. L., Nigerian business practices and their interface with virtue ethics. Journal of Business Ethics. 26 (2), 169-180(2000) 23. Magee B. , The story of philosophy. New York, Dorling Kindersley (2001) 24. Malan D. , Corporate citizens, colonialists, tourists or activists? Ethical challenges facing South African corporations in Africa, The Journal of Corporate Citizenship. Summer. 18, 49-61 (2005) 25. Marias J. , History of Philosophy, New York, Dover Publications (1967) 26. Miles M. P. and Munilla L. S. , The potential impact of social accountability certification on marketing: A short note. Journal of Business Ethics. 50 (1). 1-8 (2004) 27. OECD, Bribery: Does the OECD convention work? OECD Observer, 246/247, 20-21 (2005) 28. Olsen W. , Pluralist methodology for development economics: The example of moral economy of Indian labour markets. Journal of Economic Methodology. 14 (1), 57-82 (2007) 29. Pedigo K. and Marshall V.. International ethical dilemmas confronting Australian managers: Implications for the training and development of employees working overseas, Journal of European Industrial Training. 28 (2-4). 183-198 (2004) 30. Rohitratana K. , SA 8000: A tool lo improve quality of life. Managerial Auditing Journal. 17 (1/2). 60-65 (2002) 31. Social Accountability International, Social Accountability 8000, New York (2001) 32. Thaler-Carter R. E. , Social accountability: A social guide for companies or another layer of bureaucracy? HR Magazine. June. 107-112(1999) 33. Thompson Jr. A. A. , Strickland III A. J. and Gamble J. E.. Crafting and executing strategy: Text and readings. New York. McGraw Hill, Irwin (2007) 34. Van Dijk E.. Ethical relativism: Escaping accountability. Financial Week, July, 35 (2007) 35. Velasques M. G.. Business ethics: Concepts and cases. Upper Saddle River. NJ, Pearson Prentice Hall (2006) 36. Wettstein F., Lets talk rights: Messages for the just corporation transforming the economy through the language of rights. Journal of Business Ethics, 78 (1-1), 247-264 (2008) 37. Wolff J.. An introduction to political philosophy. New York. Oxford University Press (2006) 38. Yew Chan G. K. , The relevance and value of Confucianism in contemporary business ethics. Journal of Business Ethics, 77 (3). 347-361 (2008). (Received 8^ December 2011, accepted lO February 2012) Advances In Management Individual Subscription Fellow Membership Indian Rs. 20,000/- US Dollar 2000 Life Membership Indian Rs. 10,000/- US Dollar 1000 Annual Membership Indian Rs. 3000/- US Dollar 300 Institutional Subscription Fellow Membership Indian Rs. 30,000/- US Dollar 3000 Life Membership Indian Rs. 15,000/- US Dollar 1500 Annual Membership Indian Rs. 4000/- US Dollar 400 Please send your cheques / drafts in name of Advances In Management along with Membership Form at above address. (16)Copyright of Advances in Management is the property of Advances in Management and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holders express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use.

Introduction To The Crap Analysis English Language Essay

Introduction To The Crap Analysis English Language Essay The year 2012, marks a pivotal moment in world history. As foretold by Nostradamus, the world may end soon and very soon, we have to account for the worlds resources as its temporary caretakers. Ever since those predictions, the accountant has tracked every aspect of barter and of life. How much tea was dumped during the Boston Tea Party? How many limestone blocks were used in the first pyramid? What was the percentage of gross domestic product loss to England because of the destruction of its exports? What was the logistics strategy that causes all to want to walk like an Egyptian? The accountant has numerated and worked these questions and so many more over time. Yet we, like those before us are still burdened with CRAP. From the forensic accountant to the in home accountant also known as mom, all have counted and fell short. CRAP, in my humble opinion, is isolated as follows: C credit card fees R rebates A auto renewals P prepaid cards Only two accounting tasks are more puzzling than this one (formally known as CRAP) : One the true tax numbers of one Willard Mitt Romney? and the other what percentage of butter is in that substance at the movie theater?. I submit, CRAP is money to burn. It is unaccounted loss, monetary deception. In other words crap is money we spend or lose without knowing. CRAP, in my humble opinion, is isolated as follows: C credit card fees R rebates A auto renewals P prepaid cards Lets begin with credit card fees. Credit card fees are crap. Credit card fees and surcharges cost consumers billions a every year. Yet, the masses seem to worship credit cards. They do make our lives so expedient. Regardless, that were paying a sky-scraping outlay for this service. In this down economy, surcharges and fees are climbing as credit card companies skirmish for your dollars. You may need a Trident Tech accountant to identify those covert, oft concealed fees we pay. Credit card applications rise every year as credit card companies make breathtaking offers to clutch your business. They lure you with no interest transfers, no annual fees, and still cash back! What accountant could resist, right? Cash back seems to be the most popular today, as may credit card provider keeps offering me a plan with 5% cash back. My judgement is, if you can afford to give me 5% back how much profit do you actually make off me? So, judge wisely. Sift through the extra credit card fees and surcharges. They will deplete your cash account or that of a small business. The best way to avoid these extra credit card costs and beat the crap is to put into action simple solutions for all those fees. Take a quick look at some universal credit card fees: The Late Fee is crap. If PAYPAL doesnt get your money to the credit card company on time, because we know its not your fault, you may have to fork out a fee of up to $35. This can cripple your cash flow. Be mindful, that if you pay your balance late on a credit card, it can and will be used against you, raising your interest rate on all your cards! What all the companies do is raise you interest rate because you paid late on another account. This includes the GE Money type accounts such as Rooms To Go. To beat the crap: Pay early and often. When confronted with a late charge because of PAYPAL or your dog ate the check, call the company and give explanation. Often our big brother will negate the late charge. Over the Limit Fee is also crap. If youre near your maximum credit line, a solo additional purchase or even a late charge will thrust you over the limit and trigger an over the limit fee. Also a high credit card balance will lower your credit rating. Having over 50% of your card charged, tells the three credit agencies that you are low on cash. To beat the crap, keep all your balances safely below your limit. Like my grandfather told me, never let you gas tank go past half. So dont charge your balance over half. If you can, pay off your whole bill every month. Make it rain on VISA and MASTERCARD. This will eliminate effectively all of the fees. Next, the inner accountant in you should be aware of how much available credit you have before you acquire a fresh charge. Get the app on your smartphone, or do it the old way and call your credit card company, to check that your balance is up to date. Note to self: The reported credit limit may be around two weeks behind your transactions. Buying that new robot vacuum when you dont have the money can put you past the limit, or you may have to do the walk of shame after rejection at the register. Hopefully it doesnt happen on a first date or your pastor is in line behind you. To beat the crap: Start up the Prius, trek to Barnes and Noble, buy Accounting for Dummies, and maintain a daily accurate record of your credit card transactions. Dont rely soleIy on the convienient Android app for your current balance. The service fee is crap. Mystery Is there really a no-annual-fee credit card? Many of them, even some of the 0% plastic cards, charge a monthly service fee. The service fee is also called the minimum finance charge costs around $6 a month. Multiplied, you have an annual fee up to $72. To find out if you are victim to this crap, simply call the credit card company and get all the information you need. The crap is in the details, so be sure you understand the terms. Accounting 101 stresses where there is a debit there must be a credit. By its vary nature, the balance transfer fee is crap. My uncles girlfriend said, All money aint good money. The balance transfer fee definitely fits that descriptor. The transfer fee is exactly like its name, a charge for moving outstanding balance to another card. The fee can be a flat rate or a percentage of the amount you moved over. To beat this crap: Look before you leap, ask before you transfer! If you cant afford the fee, dont take it. At the very least, weigh the fee versus you savings by doing the transfer. Use your inner accountant and calculate the interest saved versus the transfer fee. Also if you cant pay the balance off within a specified time, the 0% may be revoked. I prefer to pay off my card as quick as I can versus moving the bad debt to another account. The Cash Advance Fee is crap. I never get cash from my credit card. For others, in certain circumstances a cash advance may be rightly what you need, but the immense fees can drown you. After cash in hand from an ATM, one is responsible for the ATM fee (more crap), and a tacked on 10% charge or more of the amount you borrowed. When you pay back your credit card, they often credit your regular charges first and keep the cash advanced balances charged to you at the higher rate. To beat the crap: Know all the costs involved forthright. Do not pull the trigger with this advance unless you can quickly downsize the balance, or can borrow from you accounting teacher Blank check fees are crap. I know you receive those blank drafts from your credit card company in your mailbox. They actually do tempt me when I get the $2,500 blank check. The look so good, I detest them, so hear me clearly. Destroy them! This gimmick is not free. You are by and large charged a towering percentage based on the total check. To beat the crap: Refuse to use these checks unless youre prepared to cover the extra costs. Try a regular bank loan before you go this route. Always be your own accountant and watch all transactions. Remember to negotiate with the credit card company. It is more expensive for them to entice new customers, instead of writing off disputed fees and charges. We can beat the crap. Yes we can! I say again CRAP, in my humble opinion, is isolated as follows: C credit card fees R rebates A auto renewals P prepaid cards Lets transition to rebates. Rebates are crap. Manufacturers and stores make it incredibly complex to claim the refunds they I still have not got the refund from Jiffy Lube, after mailing the receipt, survey, and request form of to the semi-corporate office in Bangladesh. Now , another bargain was the ATT new phone rebate that I may get back in six months or so in the form or an ATT card! Just, consider this: The ATT ad says notes post sale rebate. First I had to pay the full price phone, complete a rebate form, and then wait months if lucky. In fact, manufacturers, offer an estimated $4 billion a year in rebates. The unknown is that millions, perhaps up to 40% of it are never paid. Some simply ignore the rebate claims to making it close to impossible to qualify. Several big names retailers have been admonished by Elizabeth Warrens new government watchdog agency. The credit companies still practice this crap. First they realize that many simply dont know how to claim the rebate. To weed out the others through disqualification there are institutional practices such as the crap below: Crap is when manufacturers may insist blue ink or block style letters must be used. Crap is when they maintain you circle the price on the receipt. Crap is when boxtop with scan code is required and you already tossed it in the garbage. Crap is when you dont submit claim on time because the small print says you had to submit your claim within seven days of purchase. Crap is when the rebate check they sent you must be deposited within three days. CRAP, in my humble opinion, is isolated as follows: C credit card fees R rebates A auto renewals P prepaid cards Lets explore auto renewals. Auto renewals are crap. It is a sneak tip clause in a contract imparts that the contract term will automatically renew, unless you give notice of intent to cancel. Most, often you dont know you are even victimized by an automatic billing renewal scam. You may get a free service like extra movie channels when you order cable. You think you have it for a specific time period, such as a year, but when the time period ends, the channel access stays on and you automatically get billed for another time period, because the cable company still has your bank information on record. When you try to resolve this crap, you discover it was easy to sign up for the service, but nearly impossible to cancel. AOL was notorious for its toll-free number to call and cancel and then -shocker! you cant get through. Now they are equal opportunity and just love to scam baby boomers who might be confused about what theyve ordered or whether they have renewed. To beat the crap, check before you sign up for something to make sure there is no automatic renewal. CRAP, in my humble opinion, is isolated as follows: C credit card fees R rebates A auto renewals P prepaid cards Lets end with a look at prepaid cards. Prepaid cards are crap. They overdose in lots of anonymous fees. Your inner accountant will be surprised when you find a dozen or so different kinds of fees. Reloadable prepaid cards akin to debit cards without a real brick and mortar bank. Often parents load cash onto them and students can use them on campus where plastic is accepted. The gimmick prepaid cards often with catchy names like the Rush Card tend to serve illegal immigrants or someone with bad credit. Areas, like low-income neighborhoods in North Charleston have a host of places to reload a prepaid card. Crap is activation fees. Just to activate a card you get a fee. Service fees and even for talking to a customer service representative in off-shore China. Other fees are less likely to be disclosed, to my surprise a fee may be charged when a purchase is declined. Now, that is truly adding insult to injury! To conclude, I covered four elements of crap in our lives. Other than these, there are many more. Consider the pennies the stores keep when they round off your change. Consider the change lost when you kid goes to the store for you. Consider the campaign contributions to the candidate you drops out and then endorses the other guy. I hope that upon reading this paper, you call on your inner accountant and recognize the crap. Once you recognize the crap you can adjust and realize true profit. I describe crap as unaccounted for money, but now this money can be accounted for by you and only you. Consider it a second chance, as if the British jumped in the harbor and got their tea back!

Oliver Twist Essay -- Essays Papers

Oliver Twist A Criticism of Society or a Biography With all of the symbolism and moral issues represented in Oliver Twist, all seem to come from real events from the life of its author, Charles Dickens. The novel’s protagonist, Oliver, is a good person at heart surrounded by the filth of the London streets, filth that Dickens himself was forced to deal with in his everyday life. It’s probable that the reason Oliver Twist contains so much fear and agony is because it’s a reflection of occurrences in Charles Dickens' past. Oliver Twist also brought to light the evils of social injustice and the victims of it. During his childhood, Charles Dickens suffered much abuse from his parents. This abuse is often expressed in his novel. For example, while suffering from starvation and malnutrition for a long period of time, Oliver was chosen by the other boys at the orphanage to request more gruel at dinner one night. After making this simple request, the master (at the orphanage) aimed a blow at Oliver's head with a ladle and placed him confinement. As noted by Patricia Marks in her article on Dickens, â€Å"childhood experience and suffering had emerged as a significant new topic in romantic poetry, and Dickens was personally impelled towards it by memories of his own pre-teenage years when, with the rest of his family in prison and himself alone, he was thrown into manual labour.† Dickens was even quoted as saying, â€Å"I might easily have been, for any care that was taken of... Oliver Twist Essay -- Essays Papers Oliver Twist A Criticism of Society or a Biography With all of the symbolism and moral issues represented in Oliver Twist, all seem to come from real events from the life of its author, Charles Dickens. The novel’s protagonist, Oliver, is a good person at heart surrounded by the filth of the London streets, filth that Dickens himself was forced to deal with in his everyday life. It’s probable that the reason Oliver Twist contains so much fear and agony is because it’s a reflection of occurrences in Charles Dickens' past. Oliver Twist also brought to light the evils of social injustice and the victims of it. During his childhood, Charles Dickens suffered much abuse from his parents. This abuse is often expressed in his novel. For example, while suffering from starvation and malnutrition for a long period of time, Oliver was chosen by the other boys at the orphanage to request more gruel at dinner one night. After making this simple request, the master (at the orphanage) aimed a blow at Oliver's head with a ladle and placed him confinement. As noted by Patricia Marks in her article on Dickens, â€Å"childhood experience and suffering had emerged as a significant new topic in romantic poetry, and Dickens was personally impelled towards it by memories of his own pre-teenage years when, with the rest of his family in prison and himself alone, he was thrown into manual labour.† Dickens was even quoted as saying, â€Å"I might easily have been, for any care that was taken of...