Article Review Essay

Conducting their study as the transitional funding attached to the peace process in Northern Ireland is reaching its end, the authors examine the role of aid in conflict resolution particularly with regards to intangible outcomes such as identity formation. The idea behind this funding is that it reduces economic disparities between the conflicting groups and that the economic growth started by this funding will continue into the future. These funds come from the International Fund for Ireland (IFI), which addressed unemployment and poverty in Republican / Loyalist communities; the Peace I funds, which promoted social inclusion, cross-community contact, and economic development; and the Peace II funds (ended in 2006), which had similar goals to Peace I but targeted local, grassroots (nongovernmental) organizations. The authors also consider the role of external agencies as they intervene in ethnopolitical conflict and the importance of community development in the peace process. The authors are careful to note that economic aid is not a magic cure for conflict as this aid, if improperly administered, can at times heighten underlying conflicts. Indeed, in Northern Ireland, the approach has had mixed results. In designing their study, the authors took both a qualitative and quantitative approach. For the qualitative portion, the authors interviewed 98 community leaders, civil servants, and development officers from Belfast, Londonderry/Derry, and the Border region (Northern Ireland). These interviews consisted of semi-structured questions, including those attached to the Cantril Self-Anchoring Striving Scale: â€Å"What are your best wishes and hopes for your personal future? What are your worst fears and worries about your personal future? What are your best wishes and hopes for the future of your country? What are your worst fears and worries about the future of your country? † (page 166). The quantitative data was drawn from the summer 2006 Northern Ireland Public Opining Survey. The sample consisted of 1,023 adults representative of Northern Ireland’s adult population. The study as a whole was designed to look at the respondents hopes and fears about Northern Ireland’s future. Through the inclusion of qualitative data, the authors hoped to demarginalize voices that are often not heard in the official discourses of the peace process. This study yielded numerous tantalizing findings. First, the authors found that more Nationalists than Unionists imagine a future where conflicting groups are able to perceive a sense of shared community. Second, the authors found differences based on gender: more females than males saw the opportunity for building new relationships amongst communities in the future. Third, the authors found two common fears / concerns that extend across religions, genders, and ages: the fear that violence in changing the social fabric of Northern Ireland and the belief that politicians are disingenuous and not interested in serving the needs of their constituency. Fourth, the authors found that more Nationalists than Unionists saw the modernization of the economy and the political structure as means by which to support the peace process. Finally, the authors found that younger adults were more concerned about the potential failure of the peace process and the economy than older adults The authors consider numerous theories about identity formation. In designing their study, they took into consideration geographic differences in identity formation: i. e. Londonderry/Derry vs. Belfast and urban vs. rural locations. They also consider how the Irish view immigration and the infiltration of outside values. In general, this article is not convincing. Its primary strength is the detailed background to the conflicts in Northern Ireland, with a focus on the economic causes and effects of this conflict. This strength does not mitigate the effects of the article’s numerous weaknesses. First, the authors do not explicitly state their hypothesis. While exploratory studies such as this one can potentially reveal valuable information, the authors nowhere state the reasons behind the study. When questions such as identity formation are being explored, the readers need to know the authors’ relationship to the issue. For example, are the authors somehow involved in this ethnopolitical conflict? Or, are they looking at it from the perspective of an outsider? If they are outsiders, does their perspective have a bearing on how the respondents answer their questions? Second, the authors explicitly state that they wish to demarginalize those voices that are not typically heard in the official peace process discourse. However, in selecting the respondents for the qualitative portion of the study, the authors chose community leaders, civil servants, and development officers. It would seem that these are precisely the voices that are heard in the official discourse. Readers are left to wonder why the authors did not include a more representative sample of the population of Northern Ireland for this portion of the study. Third, this does not seem to be a study that was designed specifically to answer certain questions. As noted, the authors nowhere state a hypothesis. For the reader, it appears that the quantitative and qualitative data seems to have been mixed together ad hoc. In other words, the study does not seem to be designed to fit a specific question. Rather, the authors appear to have attempted to answer questions based on the information they had at hand. Fourth, as the basis for this study was largely to examine economic role of the peace process, it seems like a gross oversight that the authors did not provide data on their respondents’ demographics. In the discussion section, the authors indicate that they collected background demographic information (political party, religious views, age, gender, socioeconomic status) on the respondents, but this information was not included in the results section and does not appear to have been considered in any significant way. Finally, the analysis of the qualitative data seems a bit lacking. It would perhaps have been stronger to indentify the common themes and subthemes of the responses, rather than using the responses as illustrative examples. Because of these specific weakness as well as the authors’ failure to mention the limitations of their study and to provide specific recommendations for how their results can be used to generate future studies and/or to impact the peace process, this article is not convincing.

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Computer Architecture and Assembly Language – Midterm 2011 1. In instruction ADC the operands can be oTwo register only oTwo register and one memory location oCF and two other operands oZF and two other operands 2. After the execution of instruction â€Å"RET† oSP is incremented by 2 oSP is decremented by 2 oSP is incremented by 1 oSP is decremented by 1 3. The extended ASCII has o64 characters o128 characters o256 characters o502 characters 4. The second byte in the word designated for screen location holds oThe dimension of the screen oCharacter position on the screen Character color on the screen oACSII code of the character 5. REP will always oIncremented CX by 1 oIncremented CX by 2 oDecremented CX by 1 oDecremented CX by 2 6. The routine that executes in response to an INT instruction is called oISR oIRS oISP oIRT 7. The iAPX888 architecture consists of _______ register. o12 o14 o16 o18 8. In the instruction â€Å"CMP AX,BX† the contents of oAX are changed oBX are changed not conformed oCX are changed oFlag register are changed 9. All the addressing mechanisms iniAPX88 return a number called ______ address. oeffective ofaulty oindirect odirect 10.The execution of the instruction â€Å"mov word [ES: DI], 0x0720† owill clear next character on screen owill print â€Å"20† at top left of the screen owill print â€Å"20† at top right of the screen owill move DI at location 0720 on the screen 11. â€Å"mov byte [num1],5† is _______ instruction. olegal oillegal ostack based omemory indirect 12. MOV instruction transfers a byte or word from which of the following source location. oDS:DI oES:SI oES:DI oDS:SI 13. The execution of the instruction â€Å"mov word [ES: 0], 0x0741† will print â€Å"A† on the screen, color of the character will be oBlack oWhite oRed oBlue 14.If AX contains FFFFh, then after execution of instruction â€Å"SAL ax, 3†, the result will be o-3 o+3 o-8 o+8 15. If the decimal number â€Å"35† is shifted by two bit to left, the new value will be o35 o70 o140 o17 16. While using STOBS, if DF=1 then oThe value of SI will be incremented by one oThe value of SI will be incremented by two oThe value of SI will be decremented by one oThe value of SI will be decremented by two 17. After the execution of STOSW, the CX will be oDecremented by 1 oDecremented by 2 oIncremented by 1 oIncremented by 2 18. The memory address always move from oprocessor to memory memory to processor omemory to peripheral operipheral to processor 19. An offset alone is not complete without osegment ocode label oindex register odata label 20. Code Segment is associated to _______ register by default. oIP oSS oBP oCX 21. Write down the procedure to clear the selective bit. (Marks: 2) 22. Why REP prefix is generally not used with LODS instruction? (Marks: 2) 23. What is difference between REPE and REPNE? (Marks: 3) 24. Describe Push and Pop with the help of an example. (Marks: 3) 25 . Explain all characteristics of SCAS instruction. (Marks: 5) 26. Describe Local Variable? (Marks: 5)

Financial Management at Marks and Spencer Case Study

Financial Management at Marks and Spencer - Case Study Example Marks and Spencer have achieved great success in the last three years and now it is in the progress focusing on core business and aiming at becoming more customer oriented and flexible business offering a wide selection of quality goods. The financial performance of Marks and Spencer during 2008 was extremely pleasing for the stakeholders. The total revenue has been increased by 5.1 % with highly strong performance in its domestic trade. But the total revenue was increased by 10.1 % in 2007 with high performance in both its home and international business. It is reported that during 2008, 4.8% of space on the weighted average method has been added to the general merchandise. Both Gross Margin of 38.9% and Net Margin of 12.2% show better performance than its last year's financial state. During 2007 profitability has been increased to 11.2% from 9.6% and 7.4% of 2006 and 2005 profitability records respectively. It shows the success achieved by Marks and Spencer in its business operation both in domestic and international trade. Marks and Spencer's UK retail has been accounted to be '8,309.1m during 2008, but it was '7,975.5 m and '7,275 in 2007 and 2006 respectively. The international retail trade of M&S was '522.7 min 2006 and '610.6 in 2007, and the international trade in 2008 has been increased further and accounted to be '712.9m. Group operating profit has also been constantly increasing for the last few years. Group operating profit of its UK retail business has been accounted to be '972.9m in 2008 with a slight increase from the figure of '956.5 min 2007. Group operating profit of its international trade has been accounted to be '116.4m in 2008 with an increase of '28.9 m from 2007's figure of '87.5m. In short, both domestic and international trades of Marks and Spencer have been constantly increasing for the last few years and getting a rather outstanding loyalty brand name among the customers. Operating profit on property disposals was '27 million but it was 1.9 million during 2007. The report also shows that the general merchandise gross margin was up by 120 basis points to 52.6% which was caused by improved buying. Net finance costs before exceptional items were increased by 4.3% after pension finance income of '58.9 million, but it was 20.8 million in 2007. Net finance cost during 2007 has been reported to be decreased to18.3% reflecting a reduction in the average net debt. Earnings per share have been increased by 28.7% to 40.4p per share that reflected as a great advantage to attract more investors than before. Cash outflow has been reported to be '917.5 million in 2008 but cash inflow during 2007 was very strong as it generated a net cash flow of ' 231.1 million in 2007. In 2007, Cash inflow from continuing operating activities had been increased by '259 million. Cash inflow from continuing operation in 2008 has been decreased by '206.6 million that has reflected a higher working capital outflow. In 2007, there was a reduction in cash outflow on leasehold repayments as compared to 2006 and hence it resulted in an increase in the working capital which was accounted to be '114.1 million.  

Environmental laws Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Environmental laws - Essay Example This however was still being rejected and criticized for cost reasons (Glicksman 63). Animals also deserve to live in a peaceful and habitable environment same as human being and that is the reason there are environmental laws tailored towards ensuring this happens. An example of such law is the Endangered Species Act of 1973 which aims to protect certain species of animals from being completely wiped out through hunting or poaching. However, just like other environmental laws, it is still termed as a waste of resources and time especially since there are many animals in the world. Lastly, there is the pollution which has proven from time immemorial to be a menace to society. The problem was partly taken care of when the Nixon administration passed the Clean Air Act in 1970. This however did not stop the critics and ignorant individuals in society from breaking this act and still polluting the environment. The worse mistake being committed by ignoring these environmental laws is that it is the people and animals who are facing the repercussions of the negative effects of not following these laws including getting sick from water-borne diseases and also respiratory problem as well as killing the almost extinct animal species which could be useful for future

Impact of Technology on Customers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Impact of Technology on Customers - Essay Example that investing a significant amount of money on new technology could cause severe losses for the organization if the relevant investment is not paid back within a particular period of time. Current paper focuses on the new technology that Macy’s introduced to its customers. This technology incorporates a wide range of advanced technological features, such as digital receipts and free Wi-Fi. The initial responses of the firm’s customers to this technology seem to be positive, at least as revealed through the reports developed in regard to this issue. In the near future, a more accurate view of the effectiveness of new technology introduced in Macy’s would be available. Taking into consideration the existing findings in regard to this project, as presented below, it could be noted that the particular initiatives have significantly supported the performance of the organization helping towards the improvement of its relationship with its customers. In Macy’s the introduction of new technology was considered as the most effective method for improving the relationship between the firm and its customers. The term ‘new technology’, as used in the case of Macy’s refers to a wide range of features of advanced technology and not to just one technology. In this way, it is expected that the firm will acquire an advantage towards its rivals, a target that has been achieved, as proved by the performance of the firm up to now. Currently, the firm’s stores have been estimated to 850, operating under the name of Macy’s and Bloomingdales (Business Wire 2011). The successful implementation of new technology in all the firm’s stores can be characterized as a challenging task, even if the capital availability of the organization is significant, taking into consideration the fact that in 2010 the sales of the firm reached the $25 billion (Business Wire 2011). ‘free Wi-Fi, digital receipts, cosmetics kiosks and computer tablets for product demonstrations and

Segregation and the Racial Wage Gap Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Segregation and the Racial Wage Gap - Term Paper Example Though the world’s governing body has formulated policies for the development of gender equality and elimination of racial discrimination, numerous issues come to light regarding racial discrimination at schools, workplace; gender discrimination, etc. The major issues coming into discussions are about the racial and gender inequality at workplace, discrimination in wages, etc. in spite of various legal provisions available to assist the victim. This paper looks into such cases of discrimination and segregation at workplace with regard to unequal pay and race while reviewing cases published in various newspapers, magazines, journals and online articles. Body Wage Gaps based on race and gender inequality Occupation gender segregation is the strong feature of the US labor market as it is inefficient economically, preventing able people from moving into occupations where they could perform well. Occupation segregation is important point for discussion because occupational choice i s constrained by socialization, lack of information, or more direct barriers to entry to training or work in occupations where one sex is small minority of the workforce (IWPR, 13). Various legislations have been passed in different countries regarding equal pays, right to living with dignity, etc. but the differences still persist in society at large. According to Alfano (Report: Race Gap in US Persists) the median income for white households was $50,662 in the year 2005 as compared to $30,939 for black households and $36,278 for Hispanic households which shows there is huge income gap among the non white and white households revealing the discriminatory practice in income generating opportunities. According to the Economist (Race and Red Tape) black workers in America earn less than their white peers due to less education, skills, knowhow and experience than the whites. However, the article reveals the bias attitude of American companies stating that the companies are more likely to interview white person than the black person, if both of them have identical qualification. The dismal condition of black people is known for generation, gender discrimination is also at large with women entering the workforce competing with the men for the same position. The wage gap between male and female workers was huge when there were no policies protecting their rights. However the gap has narrowed down to 77 cents earned by full time female worker, irrespective of black or white, as compared to every dollar earned by men. However, the gap widens for African American women with 67.9% of men’s wages while Latinas earn 58 percent of men’s earnings (Pappas, â€Å"Women Intensely Dissatisfied with Pay Gap†). Rayner (Pay gap is growing between men and women) reported the statistics from Chartered Management Institute (CMI) which reveals that male managers are paid more than their female counterparts with same qualifications and talents. This scenario has be en explained briefly in an article at Center for American Progress (Wage Gap by Numbers) wherein its is stated that women with more

The Invention of the Printing Press Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

The Invention of the Printing Press - Essay Example Which of these should I look into and what criteria should I use to make my mind on a judgment After much thought, I realized some things: I cannot look at the results of the events since the effects are just enormous to be weighed by anyone; I also cannot look at factors such as the people involved and the efforts they have put that eventually led to the discovery or invention because again, such can lead to a chain of infinite events and circumstances. Hence, since neither its roots nor consequences may help in finding out which of the two events are greater, I had to look at some other viable criteria. Eventually, after going through the readings, I realized that there is one more avenue I never looked at. That is, the avenue of the relation between these two events! Simply, are the invention of the printing press and the discovery of the modern scientific method related at all, in any way The answer to that question, which is a yes (and I will expound on that in this paper), gave me also the answer to the debate going on in my head. There is a relation, and the relation is that of causality, one partially caused the other, making the other partially dependent on that which caused it. At least for these two, the answer was not difficult to find: the printing press acted as partial material cause for the eventual coming of the modern scientific method. So, at least within the philosophical realm of instrumental causality, the invention of the printing press has primacy over the discovery of the scientific method. With this, my question for those who would say otherwise would be: Would the modern scientific method, as we know it, be possible if not for the partial material causality provided by the printing press Given my main question whose answer rest I now provide my thesis statement: The printing press, being an instrumental cause of some of the great developments in the west (including the discovery of the scientific method) from the time of its invention to the present, makes the invention of the press a more important historical event than the discovery of the modern scientific method. To be able to prove my thesis statement, I will divide the discussions of this paper into three parts: The printing press is an instrumental cause of some of the great developments in the West; the printing press is an instrumental cause even of the scientific method; Conclusion. The Printing Press is an Instrumental Cause of the Developments in the West At the invention of the printing press in 1440 came other developments as well: the exploration age, the renaissance, the reformation, the initiation of the information age, and of course, the modern scientific period. In this part of the essay, I will show how the printing press was an instrumental cause of these developments. But before I proceed, I will first define what an instrumental cause is. An instrumental cause, according to Aristotle, is an aid to an efficient cause in coming up with an effect. So for example, the brush and other things

External Envrionment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

External Envrionment - Essay Example Mr. Curran Dandurand was thinking of the dynamics of the organizations international marketing operations. For more that fifteen years, the company had sold products outside the united states of America. However, when it came to 1992, out of the totals sales of $1billion, the company’s international sales accounted for only 11 per cent. This is opposite to Avon, a rival company which delivered more that 55 per cent of a total of $3.6 sales from the international markets in the same year. The company got a chance to venture into the international market. Among the international market ventures included launching of its operations in Japan. Japan is considered a mature market but then it happens to be lucrative in its operations. The other major market is the rapidly upcoming market in china. China happens to be quite unknown but the potential is enormous. Mary Kay Cosmetics Company was in competition for customers in both direct selling and cosmetics industries. Just to mention , the major competitor in the united states in 1992 were four companies. They included Avon, L’Oreal, Revlon and Procter & gamble. When it came to international marketing, Argentina and Australia were not chosen because of reasons bent on the company’s strategy. However, the company had a presence in many other countries and was hoping to do extremely well. In Canada, the Mary Kay cosmetics company was perceived as outdated, a clear indicator of its poor market analysis as a new entrant. This was in accordance to the research that was conducted. All this happened in the year 1992. This definitely tainted their image. Mary Kay Company needs a renewed approach that pays attention to the needs and culture of the local markets. Customers’ thoughts about a product are of utmost importance, because it determines how they shall respond to the same product. The Mary Kay cosmetics company had a lot of work to do after it suffered a low brand image. This may as well mean that the company never took enough time to understand the market requirements of the Australians. The brand image was positive in Mexico. Many people were aware of the brand in the same country. The company had rapid expansion in Taiwan, which was able to raise $3.3 million through sales. One of the mistakes Mary Kay Cosmetics Company did was to apply US market strategies directly without an acute understanding of the other markets. To be more specific, the company used the same marketing strategies used in the United States in new markets. These strategies were not even modified to pay any special attention to the new market requirements. This can be done through forecasting which could play a great role in learning the behavior of the market (Mullins, Boyd & Walker, 2010). Instead, Avon paid attention to the needs of the local markets. This included setting apart enough resources for international marketing strategies. This was important as a new entrant. Avon did not ignore other new market entrants. Mary Kay Company downplayed the implications and threats of other new entrants. Besides, in some markets the consumers were not aware of the products and services associated with Mary and Kay Cosmetics Company. Definitely, this led to low brand awareness that ended up hurting the overall sales of Mary Kay incorporated. One of the requirements of successful marketing is an acute understanding of the needs of the market. This on its own is not enough. After understanding the needs

Student Notebook 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Student Notebook 2 - Essay Example Stewardship gives the priority to individuals needs and it does not focus on church’s need to receive. Major stewardship activities conducted in this Presbyterian Church are food drives, care projects. And also they decided to add more activities. Stewardship teaching is done based on three principles. The first one is an owner manager relationship. Here the owner is God and the man (or woman) is the manager. The second principle is love is the foundation of stewardship. Relationship, ownership, possession, sacrifice are the branches of the love. Through stewardship one can show God’s love in action. The third principle is the starting of the stewardship is presenting life’s resources. Teaching stewardship helps the life management which will enhance the kingdom of God. Presbyterian Churches usually conducts parish member meetings and forums for promoting stewardship activities. They also publish new brochures and flyers and newsletters for this purpose. Instead of these, the Northminster Presbyterian Church conduct Heritage education program in schools. They also present various cultural programs and dramas for convey the message of stewardship to the people. Budgeting is an important process required for the survival and growth of any organization. The Northminster Presbyterian Church takes this process very seriously. According to the pastor in charge of finances, the Church holds a large amount of public money donated by members and other charitable individuals. These donations are made for the purposes of running the day to day operations of the Church as well as for the many activities (religious and charitable) that the Church conducts. In such a scenario, the responsible person or persons should be doubly careful in the way finance is handled. For this proper budgeting at the beginning of a financial year is essential. The budgeting process followed by the Church is given here. The Church has a permanent

The Work of the Prophets order Essay Example for Free

The Work of the Prophets order Essay Introduction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Prophets of the Old Testament times are known to be people who speak for God. They are God’s messengers whose sole job was to proclaim the word of the Lord to His people. In short, they are God’s mouthpiece. There are however misconceptions and confusions as to the exact work of the prophet. This essay will try to elaborate on the true work of the prophet. Certain Confusions   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The work of the prophet is commonly misconceived by many well-meaning people. Most of these, revere, and regard the Bible as the Word of God, and therefore authoritative in life. However, confusion has wreaked havoc in their understanding of the true nature of prophetic writings because these people misunderstood the prophets themselves. A wrong perception of the personalities of these messengers of God has led to wrong interpretations of their writings. One prevailing false impression of the prophets generally is in the area of their mental state. Usually, they are perceived as people who were not in their normal state of mind especially while they were receiving their prophecies from God and while they were fulfilling their task of prophesying to Old Testament kings and the people of Israel. Their whole personalities, as well as their public functions, are veiled with mystery or paranormal occurrences. For example, some think that these prophets of Old were people who from time to time would experience some kind of a trance, a state of dazed existence, at certain occasions to receive their messages, much like the pagan prophets of Baal and other ancient religions of those times. This is a false notion of a biblical prophet, of course (Pratt Jr, thirdmill.org). Prophets have come to be known as such, not because they are primarily mystics who during several special occasions went through beyond normal encounters with God, but because they are messengers of God who proclaimed God’s word to Israel and remind them at certain times the forgotten laws of their Lord. Prophets are prophets because God must have His choiced spokespersons to deliver His word to His people. And so, they are normal persons with normal personalities like any other ordinary citizen of Israel. In fact, they have come from all walks of life in the nation of Israel. Some of them were statesmen like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Daniel. Others like Zechariah came from levitical backgrounds; Amos, on the other hand was a shepherd and a farmer. Certain marks distinguished these people as prophets of God: they were chosen by God (Jer.1:5), they were people with heightened sensitivity to the holiness of God and the evils of men (Am.8:4-6), and they were people whose words they carry were not really theirs but God’s, hence, they were able to predict future events. As to the hyper-sensitivity of biblical prophets to evils in society, they were somewhat beyond the normal. The otherwise normal occurrences in life such as falsehood, injustice, hypocrisy, misery, etc., were magnified in their consciences by their knowledge of the laws of God (Heschel, 1962). With regards to sin, because it is the major problem with which God has been dealing with His people Israel since their inception, the prophets were so keen to highlight. Jeremiah prophesied doom for the non-repentance of Israel (Jer.1:16), and that they would eventually go into exile for their sins. The prophesy was historically fulfilled during the reign of Nebuchadnezzar (597 BC). In spite of the imminent judgment of exile on the people of God, the prophets pronounced a yet coming day when God would show His long-term eternal plan to redeem His people through the Messiah who would come first as a Suffering Servant (Isa.52-53). Through the coming Messiah, God would deal with the sin problem decisively and restore His people by making a New Covenant with them not like the one which God made in the time of Moses (Jer.31:31-33). Through the prophets then, God has clearly revealed His permanent hatred of sin, His righteousness, and everlasting plan for His people. References: Heschel, Abraham J. 1962. The Prophets: An Introduction. Harper Row Publishers. Holy Bible. New King James Version. 2002. Pratt, Richard Jr. http://thirdmill.org/seminary/catalog/herm/hgup/detail.asp/site/iiim/category/catalog

Hacking and Identity Theft

Hacking and Identity Theft Hacking Hackers have unwanted and unauthorised users that has knowledge of coding and has the ability to change the code that can cause problems. Hackers is dangerous for ecommerce websites since it can have unwanted and unauthorised users that gains access to secure networks. Unauthorised users that are hackers can change certain aspects of the website. So they will have access to users personal information. For example, hackers can use the user bank account details to order things online from their details before the user even knows about this. So users want their details safe and secure in the right hands and not in the hands of hackers. Every ecommerce owners and users fears from getting hacked because every user detail can be shown and the reputation of the ecommerce business can be down in seconds. Hackers aims to steal users bank details and email details. They could use user bank details to order things online without the hackers spending a penny from their own account. Hackers could sell their email details to other businesses so that they can have the latest product emailed to them. This will make the user think that they signed up for this and its normal. They could steal company datas which can contain very important information about everything they needed to make their business successful.   Ã‚   Identity Theft Its a result from being hacked, so this identity theft usually involves hackers and anyone that has unauthorised access to details from other users and they could pretend to be that user. Identity Theft is dangerous for ecommerce websites since, hacker can steal someones name, address, phone and date of birth in order to require the identity theft. For example, hackers can use the ecommerce customers identity for criminal activity and this can be bad for ecommerce business because if hackers has the customers has their details then the hackers can sell their details to other people and use it as their own identity or the hackers can use their identity to buy some stuff from the ecommerce system. So every commerce users will fear their identities being stolen as well because they could automatically blamed and be in trouble by the police since, hackers can use their identity to buy some stuff from the ecommerce website and hackers can do a criminal activity using their identity. Identity Theft aims to steal ecommerce customers identities. To could use the customer details to commit criminal activity or they can use it to order something from the ecommerce website. Viruses can be caused in websites as well. It can be caused by someone else on the internet who is seeking to cause damage to someone elses computers. A computer code can be written to gain unauthorised access to programs/files on a computer. Viruses can be dangerous for computers and ecommerce websites since, the viruses can be accessed virtually (internet) through email or physically through USB Stick.   Once they can have access to programs/files then the virus will start to damage the computer programs/files. For example, hackers will send you an email and if you open the email from the internet and you click on the email link that the hacker send you then the virus will be triggered faster and its called a payload. The abilities of the payload enables intrusive damage and popups will be shown as it tells the user that the computer is at risk. This can be bad for ecommerce business and users because customers and people who is working for the ecommerce company could have important files that could relate to the business or personal files. Viruses aims to damage the computer completely and to make sure the computer never responds to the user command. Phishing can happen by downloads from a unknown website or by third party applications usually hackers trying to get important information by mimicking and want to get a financial gain from this. It attempts to trick users to get their details like credit cards. Phishing is dangerous for computers and ecommerce websites since, it can mimic itself as a well-known company, well known group etc. and they do this get the financial gain from ecommerce employees/customers. Once the user is tricked by the phishing then the details gets stolen like credit card and other important information. For example, a hacker can send you an email and link a third party application to download so once you download this third party application then the phishing begins. From there they can access your information and steal credit card or your personal information so that the hacker or anyone can use that identity. Phishing can be bad for ecommerce business/customers because important information is being stolen and it can make the ecommerce employees/customer details get leaked. Phishing aims to leak personal information about the user, employee and business. Also maybe getting the codes to get inside of the ecommerce company. Systems failure is a hardware that cant function at all and the computer isnt responding at all whatever the user commands it to do. This can happen if the motherboard and all circuits is not failing to function. Systems failure is bad for ecommerce websites since, without a computer machine then you wont be able to run a website or you wont be able to see how much sales youve made. You wont be able to contact other customer since, customers nowadays use social media, emails to contact the ecommerce business. For example, if you want to start up an ecommerce website you will need an internet, web server and computer because without these you wont be able to start up your ecommerce website and get in contact with other customers using social media or email. Systems failures is bad for ecommerce business/customers because they wont be able to start up the ecommerce website without a computer and customers wont be able to get in touch with ecommerce businesses with email or social media. Systems failure happens if the computer doesnt function at all or the motherboards and circuits fails to function.

Jack Kerouac Essay -- Writer Author Jack Kerouac Biography Essays

Jack Kerouac   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the beginning Jack Kerouac lived a wild and exciting life outside the realm of everyday "normal" American life. Though On the Road and The Dharma Bums were Kerouac's only commercial sucesses, he was a man who changed American literature and pop-culture. Kerouac virtually created a life-style devoted to life, art, literature, music, and poetry. When his movement grew out of his control, he came to despise it, and died lonely on the other side of what he once loved and cherished above all else. But, on the way he created a style of writing which combined elements of all the great writers, with speed, common language, real people, and the reality of his life.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In a public junior high school he began to read feverishly. In English classes he flourished, but socially he did not. Impressed deeply by Mark Twain and Jack London, Kerouac created his own imaginary world, which he recorded in hand-written "newspapers." These led to his first "novel" Jack Kerouac Explores the Merrimack, which he wrote in a notebook at the age of twelve (Clark, 22).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Skipping classes at Lowell High School, in Lowell Massachusetts, Kerouac was exposed to the work of Thomas Wolfe by a fellow student Sammy Sampas. They encouraged writing in each other, and Kerouac began writing seriously. Since the Kerouacs could not afford college, a local priest suggested he try for a football scholarship (Clark, 32). He was offered two; one from Colombia University and the other from Boston College.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Kerouac opted for Columbia and first spent one year, by the request of the university, at the Horace Mann School for Boys. Here he didn't fit in with the rich prep- school crowd, but he was exposed to Hemmingway (Clark, 37). Here, also, in a school publication his work was first printed (Clark, 39).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  After two years of school at Columbia Kerouac made a decision that would change his life. He always believed he learned more outside of the classroom than in; and so after a series of arguments with his coach, he quit the team. Not long after he dropped out of school as well. He served briefly in the navy, and drinking heavily, was discharged on psychiatric grounds(Clark, 52). Upon his return home he got a job with as a Merchant Marine. When he wasn't working he spent his time with Allen Ginsberg, Lucien Carr, William S. Burroughs, and Neal Cass... ...ectric...). Kerouac, though, was a conservative at heart and avoided the psychedelic drug movement (Clark, 193). This eventually to Kerouac being despised by even those who's careers he began, and lives he had changed. In one meeting one of the Merry Pranksters had covered a couch with a flag. Ginsberg watched Kerouac slowly fold it up and "marveled sadly... history was... out of Jack's hands now," (Clark, 201).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Neal Cassady died of a drug overdose in Mexico in 1968. Not long after, Jack Kerouac died of an abdominal hemorrhage and cirrhosis of the liver, he had literally drunk himself to death. He was only 47. He died a lonely death. A sad ending to the sad writer who gave so much of himself in his belief that "writing was his duty on earth." Works Cited Clark, Tom. Jack Kerouac: A Biography. Paragon House. "Jack Kerouac." 3 Oct.1998 <http://www.charm.net/~brooklyn/People/JackKerouac.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  html> Kerouac, Jack. Big Sur. New York: Viking Press, 1959. --- The Dharma Bums. New York: Viking Press, 1958. --- On the Road. New York: Viking Press, 1957. Wolfe, Tom. The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test. New York: Bantam Books, 1968.

Lupus Essay -- science

"Lupus" Systemic lupus erythematosus, or simply lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease or immune system malfunction. A person's immune system normally protects the person from viruses, bacteria and other foreign materials. When a person has an autoimmune diseases like lupus, the immune system turns against itself and attacks itself. Lupus does not have a known cause, and because of that it has no known cure. The exact cause of lupus is unknown, but scientists suspect that it is likely to be a combination of factors, people who contract lupus are probably genetically predisposed to lupus, and know that environmental factors such as infections, antibodies, ultraviolet light, extreme stress and certain drugs play a critical role in triggering lupus. Managing lupus is different from person to person. Individuals with lupus can usually live a normal life span. Medications are usually prescribed to patients, although treatment is not required at all times, but most patients will undergo some treatment. Some medications that are often prescribed for people with lupus are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), acetaminophen, corticosteroids, antimalarials and immunomodulating drugs. The treatment goal for lupus is to stop the immune system from attacking & destroying vital organs. Another popular treatment for lupus is simply exercising and eating right. Since we have no known cause of lupus, you cannot prevent it. It is sometimes referred to as a chronic diseas...

Divine Love in The Canonization Essay -- Canonization Essays

Divine Love in The Canonization Describing the complexities of love, Pascal states that "the heart has reasons which reason knows nothing of" (qtd. in Bartlett 270). Similarly, in "The Canonization" by John Donne, the speaker argues that his unique love obtains reasons beyond the knowledge of the common man. The speaker relates his love to the canonization of saints. Therefore, he implies that his love is a divine love. In "The Canonization," the speaker conveys a love deserving of admiration and worthy of sainthood. In the poem, the lover describes his love as incomprehensible. In the heat of discussion, the lover insults his companion's intelligence with the statement, "Take you a course, get you a place" (5). The speaker implies that his listener does not possess the adequate amount of intelligence necessary to understand his complex love. Resulting from the listener's critical comments concerning the speaker's love, the speaker implores the listener to chide him for his physical features or past mistakes in life. In other words, he tells the listener to deride him for his tangible and superficial flaws, rather than attempt to disparage the inner depths of a love relationship that the listener cannot comprehend. The speaker expresses the rarity of his love by stating that his love is his occupation and his sole purpose in life. In essence, his love becomes his calling, similar to a saint's calling from God. Stressing his devotion to his lover, the speaker reveals an astute comparison between the professions of mankind to his own occupation of love: "Soldiers finde warres, and Lawyers finde out still / Litigious men, which quarrels move, / Though she and I do love" (16-18). Similar to the profession... ...y embracing their isolation, they discover the world through each other's eyes: "Who did the whole world soule extract, and drove / Into the glasses of your eyes" (40-41). Unlike the rest of the world, the two unique lovers find their true identities and ideal desires through reckless abandonment of worldly views. The comparison between the artificial love of the listener and the divine love of the speaker represents another distinction in the two concepts of love. The divine love of the speaker offers complete devotion, intensity and immortality while artificial love of the listener maintains the placid position of peace. In essence, the love of the speaker creates a model for all other lovers that "Beg from above / A patterne of your love!" (44-45). The love of the speaker in "The Canonization" proves to be a divine love relative to the saints.

How Does Steinbeck Create the Theme of Insecurity in the Novel?

Write about: †¢Why some characters feel insecure †¢How language contributes to a sense of the characters’ insecurity †¢How the settings contribute to a sense of insecurity †¢Other features which create a sense of insecurity You must: Explore how Steinbeck creates a sense of insecurity through the presentation of insecure characters, eg through: Lennie, Crooks and Curley’s wife †¢Look at language/settings, eg the situation of Curley’s wife and how she feels about Curley and her life on the ranch, and her appearance †¢Show how Steinbeck uses language/settings to create insecurity, eg how language is used to show Lennie’s insecurity about George †¢End by evaluating how the different elements work together †¢ In 45 minutes, three characters are enough to consider. Choose settings to look at in some detail, eg the pool in the valley where the novel begins and ends; the harness room (chapter 4) which is where Crooks lives; the Great Barn (chapter 5) where Lennie kills Curley’s wife. Comment on the language Steinbeck uses to describe characters and settings. †¢ The movement from harmony to discord appears in most of the settings in the book. Look at the opening description on page 18. This peaceful world of nature is disturbed by the arrival of George and Lennie. Make your point and use evidence/quotation to support it. Lennie is described as a ‘bear’. This image establishes his essential nature – the combination of brute strength and animal-like innocence. An appropriate image which emphasises his tendency to hold onto things in a ‘bear-hug’. Steinbeck suggests a great deal about Lennie by describing his movements. †¢ Now go on to look at what we learn about Lennie; George is ill at ease with Lennie’s behaviour as he helps him to rehearse how he should behave when they arrive at the ranch the following day. Comment on what causes Lennie’s insecurity. We soon see that Lennie is totally dependent on George, unable to cope in the world on his own. His innocence and ignorance of the world and other people lead him into trouble. As a result, Lennie is the main source of conflict in the novel, though as George tells us, he â€Å"never done it in meanness. † Lennie’s obsession for ‘petting’ shows that he has deep-rooted emotional needs which he himself does not understand, but which nevertheless have to be satisfied. There is a dreadful progression in his victims from dead mouse to dead girl. We are told something of the reasons why George and Lennie are on their way to a new job and what life is like for itinerant workers during the Great Depression in America in the 1930s †¢ George sometimes appears cruel in his treatment of Lennie when he tells him he could have a better life without him,(page 29) but we soon realise that this?is a form of control and that in fact, George actually enjoys their companionship and his responsibility, because the alternative life of the lonely migrant worker has little to recommend it. However,Lennie’ sinterpretationofGeorge’ swordsisalways literalandhe fears that George will abandon him if he does a ‘bad thing’. It is this that makes him feel insecure. †¢To reassure himself that they have a future together, to feel secure, Lennie frequently asks George to ‘tell about the rabbits’. Comment on the significance of the ‘dream farm’ (p. 31) â€Å"Guys like us, that work on ranches , are the loneliest guys in the world†¦. † †¢Lennie enjoys George’s story just as a child enjoys a familiar fairy story. But it represents far more to both men. The ‘heaven’ as Crooks later calls it, becomes not only their dream, but also that of Candy, Crooks and Curley’s wife. †¢ In chapter 4, Steinbeck brings together the most vulnerable and insecure characters in the novel. Show how and why this is dramatically effective; the chapter ends as it begins; it prepares us for the novel’s final tragedy; achieving the ‘dream’ is impossible – â€Å"Nobody never gets to heaven. † the potential for happiness is dashed each time. †¢ Look in detail at Crooks and the setting of the harness room, where he lives. Note that Steinbeck’s portrayal of Crooks is sympathetic. He emphasises his experience of silent suffering, because of his crooked back but also because of the racism he is subjected to because he is black. It is his enforced segregation from the other workers, which causes his insecurity. Look at how Steinbeck’s description of the setting gives us an insight into Crooks’s character (p. 98,99) as well as his use of language, â€Å"he had thin, pain-tightened lips†. He is a victim of oppressive violence and prejudice and has learned to cope with it by withdrawing into himself. He is ‘proud and aloof’as a defence against the cruel treatment he receives from the other men because he is black. In this chapter, Lennie acts as a catalyst. It is through him that Crooks and Curley’s wife reveal their insecurities. In spite of Crooks’ experience which has taught him that â€Å"nobody never gets to heaven†, he too gets caught up in Lennie’s dream of owning land and having a future, but Cur ley’s wife’s cruelty in reminding him of her racial superiority, â€Å"Well, you keep your place then, Nigger. † (p. 113) when he asks her to leave, leaves him feeling humiliated. He realises that in this world of white supremacy, there will never be any security for him. He will never escape from his life of suffering, â€Å"What she says is true. † †¢ Curley’s wife is never named in the novel. She is perceived as Curley’s possession, referred to as Curley’s wife. Her husband married her because she is ‘purty’ and naively she married him because she must have believed that the security of marriage would bring her happiness. Instead, she finds herself in a world of men who do not treat her as an individual, but see her as a sex- object, or a piece of ‘jail bait’. Desperate for companionship, she approaches the men in a provocative way. Find examples of Steinbeck’s description of her. Experience has taught her that men are only interested in her looks. A victim of sexual prejudice, she herself enjoys being cruel to the men in section 4. Angry at being left alone while her husband has gone to spend the evening with prostitutes, she tells them, â€Å"An’ what am I doin’? Standin’ here talking to a bunch of bindle stiffs-a nigger an’ a dum-dum †¦. † Like Crooks, who takes the opportunity to vent his pent up anger on someone weaker than himself when he tries to frighten Lennie into believing that George has deserted him, she gets pleasure in watching others suffer. †¢ Now look at chapter 5. The setting is the Great Barn, where Lennie has just accidentally killed his puppy. Curley’s wife confides in Lennie just as Crooks did. This results in her death and the start of the man-hunt for Lennie. Steinbeck evocatively creates a warm and lazy atmosphere through visual detail supported by onomatopeia, â€Å"The hay came down like a mountain slope to the other end of the barn†¦ † // â€Å"There was the buzz of flies in the air, the lazy afternoon humming. † This is disrupted by the violence of the killing of Curley’s wife. †¢ Look at p. 124. Curley’s wife speaks to Lennie ‘in a passion of communication’. She relishes the opportunity to talk to someone. In a form of soliloquy, she talks about the life she dreamed of and confesses, â€Å"I don’t like Curley. † On page 129, Steinbeck’s writing technique resembles script writing for film, â€Å"And the meanness and the plannings and the discontent and the ache for attention were all gone from her face. † Death has restored her to a natural state of innocence and the visual detail of the description in its softness contrasts with earlier harsh descriptions of her, where Steinbeck suggests that her body language is intended to attract the men’s attention, â€Å"†¦. eaned against the door frame so that her body was thrown forward. † In death she is relieved of the loneliness and insecurity, which led her to dream and to search for attention. †¢ With her death, Lennie’s insecurity returns, â€Å"I done a real bad thing,†¦ George’ll be mad†¦ † †¢By ending the novel where it began, Steinbeck brings the action of the book full circle which gives a feeling of completeness to the story. Once again, the last chapter opens with a description of the setting. Lennie has returned to the brush, where George has instructed him to go. Steinbeck focuses on the beauty of the natural world, but this time hints at the violence in nature as a heron swoops down on a water snake â€Å"and plucked it out by the head,† †¢The insecurity felt by these characters is a result of overt discrimination against race, gender and mental disability. Lack of understanding causes their suffering. Both Lennie and Curley’s wife die and Steinbeck suggests this is the only way to end their suffering. Crooks is doomed to a life of suffering and insecurity. Through these characters, Steinbeck paints a bleak picture of the lives of migrant workers at this time.

Merseyside Essay

This case involves the dilemma between two mutually exclusive projects that Victoria Chemicals wants to proceed with, but can only choose one earning them 7% increase in polypropylene output per plant. The two proposals will be proposed by the plant managers and evaluated according to corporate criteria. They are to be evaluated on four credentials; Net present value, IRR, payback, and growth in EPS. However the two proposals are fairly different. The Rotterdam projects calls for the expenditure of 10. 5 million GBP spread over three years, firmly committing Victoria Chemicals to the new process technology. The Merseyside project calls for 12 million GBP for renovations, retaining the flexibility to later add the technology in the future. The question is which project should the company take on based on the financial calculations including the company decision criteria. Rotterdam Proposal The Rotterdam proposal consisted of a 90 page document with strategic analyses, and financial projections. The basic discounted cash flow (DCF) shows the project having a positive NPV of 11 million GBP with a IRR of 15. 4%. The initial invest spread over 3 years would help convert the plants polymerization line from batch to continuous-flow technology and to install sophisticated state-of-the-art process controls throughout the operations. This process has already been installed in several other production facilities in Japan and the improvements in cost and output had been positive on average. This proposal consists of 90 pages and already is giving a hint. In this proposal there can be a lot of bogus information which cant lead to false and misleading predictions. It can be looked at as very sketch as to why it seems to be the â€Å"better† proposal. In essence, the Rotterdam proposal seeks to accomplish their goals by having the option to purchase the pipeline for GBP3. 5 million in initial capital investment for overhauling the plant, having a value of 6 million GBP which can be later sold 15 years later for approx.. 40 million GBP. This violates the stand-alone principle. Subsequently, the plan calls for spending another GBP5 million in 2001, GBP1 million for 2002, and another GBP1 million for 2003. Total investments are roughly GBP10. 5 million, spread out in 3 years. These initial investment figures have a negative impact on the firm’s finances, affecting a series of other factors, which raise concerns among board of directors and executives. One major concern is that in the financial associated with this project they include 40 Million GBP from the selling of sale of the right-of-way pipeline in there cash flows in year 15 when in fact this is not substantial cash flow directly associated with the project. Some senior Victoria Chemicals executives firmly agreeing with this speculation saying â€Å"Our business is chemicals, not land speculation. Simply buying the right-of-way with the intention of reselling it for a profit takes us beyond our expertise. Who knows when we could sell it, and for how much? How distracting would this little side venture be for the executive committee? This then can affect the NPV as well as the IRR. The proposal also doesn’t account for the 3 percent inflation that is expected which also can change the estimates of gross profit also affecting the free cash flows for this project. As a result of these loses in output the first three years (from 2001-2003), there is also a reduction in gross profit. The report shows loses of -7. 79 GBP for 2001, -GPB5. 73 for 2002, and –GBP3. 40 for 2003 caused from the initial investment of 10. 5. The total loses amount to a staggering –GBP16. 92, a substantial amount for the firm during these first three years of upgrades and preparation for the new technology. These loses have a direct impact in sales figures, noticeably, thus creating a longer payback period for this project around 11 years, meaning that the project is a bit more risky considering a given 10 percent discount rate. I also noticed that this project seems to have the higher NPV of 14. 87 when they factor in the 40 million GBP from the sale of the pipeline in 15 years. Without that it then falls under the other proposal and is not the preferred project and has a lower NPV of 5. 29. Merseyside Proposal The Merseyside proposal consisted of a 12 million GBP expenditure creating significant opportunities for improvement in polypropylene production. Other opportunities stemmed from correcting the antiquated plant design in ways that would save energy and improve the process flow: relocating and modernizing tank-car unloading areas, which would enable the process flow to be streamlined, refurbishing the polymerization tank to achieve higher pressures and thus greater throughput, and renovating the compounding plant to increase extrusion throughput and obtain energy savings. No question that Morris’ plan is the more conservative of the two, suggesting a phased-in approach to the upgrades. In essence, Merseyside sees the need to make some technological upgrades as well. They want to slowly upgrade to the new controls system, and after a few years, make the full switch to the new software. In all, this 12 million GBP proposal retained the flexibility to add the technology in the future. The entire renovation would cause the plant to be down for 45 days causing the customers to go to other suppliers and competitors for the needed products due to the fact the other nearby plant (Rotterdam) is already working at maximum capacity. Some benefits of the renovations would be the improvement on gross margin up 1 % from 11. 5-12. 5. As you look at the financials associated with this project you notice that Merseyside met all the requirements for the corporate criteria with a greater NPV that Rotterdam when they do not include the 40 million sale of the pipeline. They also include and take inflation into account when giving their proposals as well. The initial investment is a bit more that Rotterdam but essentially the payback period is lower with only around 4. 1 years. This means this proposal is less risky then the other, both assuring the expected return of 7%. However there is a crossover rate at 15. 2 meaning with the discount rate at 15. there is no proposal that is preferred to one another if Rotterdam includes the 40 Million. Without the 40 million Merseyside project will always be preferred to Rotterdam because the NPV will always be greater. According to the case and my calculations I have come to the conclusion that it is best to accept the Merseyside project and reject the Rotterdam. Based on many financials and the corporate criteria Merseyside seems to be the best option. While evaluating both proposals I noticed that the Rotterdam project purchases a right-of-way pipeline for 3. 5 million included in the 10. million GBP investment to later sell in 15 years for 40 million GBP violating the standalone principle. However being that they are not in this type of business and are in the plastic manufacturing industry producing a wide variety of products; including medical supplies, carpet fibers, and automobile components, they should not account for the sale which would then put the NPV for this project from 14. 87 to 5. 29, which is then lower then the NPV for Merseyside which is 9. 12. When comparing mutually exclusive projects you want to focus on NPV and the project with the higher NPV is usually preferred to the oth er like in this case. Also when making my decision to choose Merseyside I noticed there was a smaller payback period meaning it will take a shorter time to recover your initial investment proving that the project can be less risky as well. I was also a little sketched out when the plant manager for Rotterdam presented a 90-page proposal. This can mean the managers put in a lot of false and misleading info to get the project approved. This can rest my case as to why I would prefer to choose the Merseyside project to the Rotterdam.

Final Case Study

No â€Å"l† In Team Team members: Jazzmen Robinson, ROR Rousakis, Antenatal Karma, Allen Wang MGM 300 – Team Dynamics and Managerial Analysis Golden Gate University Case Overview The case looks at a company called Support. Com that specializes in technology support. The company Is roughly 1 1 years old and provides other companies, such as Compact, technical support to their customers with purchased products.All employees of the company work remotely from home, while the corporate location as a large office in Redwood City. Support. Com irritates that it is no longer a startup company, however, in many ways the maturity of its administration points otherwise. Jazzmen Robinson, a 2013 graduate from USAF with a background in Communication Studies (also a team member of No â€Å"l† In Team), experienced the low-level administrative abilities in Support. Coma's human resources department. She was hired in as a Temporary Contract Recruiting Coordinator in the fall of 2013.From Cayman's initial perspective, the HER team appeared to be functioning Just fine, but this was definitely not the case as time revealed. The HER Director, by the name of Erik, was the mall cause of many problems that manifested In the department. Erik was employed for 7 years with the company, several of those years as the Director of HER. Erik had a background In Nonverbal Communication, as well as many years of experience in HER. Nonetheless, her inabilities to lead the HER team became quite

Psychopathic behavior Essay

Mike Tyson, or Iron Mike, the world’s youngest heavy weight boxing champion, has been involved in several problems with the law. A brief look at his life will show that it is possible that he is suffering from antisocial personality disorder or psychopathy. Mike was born in Brooklyn, New York on June 30, 1966. He came from a broken family as his left them when he was two years old. At his younger years, before 12 years old, he became a member a street gang and was involved in numerous bouts with the law. At the age 12 he was arrested for armed robbery and was sent a correctional center for juveniles in New York. At the age of 16 his mother died, and having no parent, he lived with his boxing trainer D’ Amato, became his legal guardian. There were rumors that he sexually abused a 12 year old girl. At age 20, in 1986, he came the world’s youngest WBC heavyweight champion. At age 21, he became the WBA heavy weight champion, and earned $20 million. Later he was married to actress Robin Givens, but they subsequently divorced. In 1992, he was convicted of rape and he spent 3 years in prison. In an official match, he bit off a chink of Evander Holyfield’s ear, which caused him to be banished from boxing for quite some time. In 1999, he was again sent to prison for assault. In a 2002 press conference, he attacked Lennox Lewis and bit his leg. In 2005, he was in debt for $34 million, despite earning hundreds of millions throughout his career. In 2006, he was again apprehended for driving while under the influence of alcohol. Based on these, it can be believed that Mike Tyson is possibly suffering from antisocial personality disorder. The key symptoms of antisocial personality disorder are; repeated lawbreaking, which can be seen from his repeated arrests; deceitfulness or lying; impulsivity, irritableness and aggressiveness, which can be seen from his assault and attack charges; reckless disregard for own safety and that of others, which can be seen when he was driving without a license; irresponsibility as seen unreliable employment history or not meeting financial obligations, which can be seen is being in debt for millions of dollars; lack of remorse; conduct disorder, which can be seen as he was already a member of a gang conduct disorder before 15 yrs of age. Lacks of affection, severe parental rejection, and lack of discipline from parents, are considered to be the primary causes of psychopathic behavior. In Mike’s case, he came from a broken family. He had no father since he was 2 years old. He had no mother since he was 16 years old. One might assume that mike never that the affection from his parents. When his father left their family, Mike might have taken it as being rejected. Their family set-up provided no or little room for discipline. Experts have found that it is futile to try to alter the nature of psychopaths (Davidson et al, 2004). A reason for this is that psychopaths just play along with therapists, indicating the manipulative character of psychopaths. It is also believed that it is unlikely that psychopaths would want to be in therapy. Recent studies however show that there can benefits from psychosocial treatment for younger patients with the said disorder (Davidson et al, 2004). Because of these, I believe treatment for Mike would be futile. Considering that he is already 42 years old, and that research have shown that treatment for psychopaths are often unsuccessful, and that psychosocial treatment would only benefit younger patients, it would be safe to assume that he will derive minimal, or no benefit at all from treatment. However since, he is already 42 years old, it can also be said that it would not be needed since psychopaths often settle down in middle age and after. In this stage in his life, antisocial behavior is believed to be less evident (Davidson et al, 2004). Reference Davidson, G. C. , Neale, J. M. , & Kring, A. M. ( 2004) Abnormal Psychology. USA. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Book guns germs and steel by jared diamond Essay

Book guns germs and steel by jared diamond - Essay Example Logically, Diamond’s contention is predominantly based on his argument that Eurasian civilization is more of an upshot of opportunity and need, and not of cleverness or ingenuity. He argues that civilization is not derived from exceptional intelligence but crops up as a result of a series of growth and progress, both politically and economically, which are caused by some requirements or preconditions. Consistent with Diamond’s argument, the colonization of Africa by the Europeans can be attributed to â€Å"accidents of geography and biogeography – in particular, to the continents’ different areas, axes, and suites of wild plant and animal species. That is, the different historical trajectories of Africa and Europe stem ultimately from differences in real estate† (401). While it is substantial that Diamond places much more stress and importance on the role of geography in the expansive scope of the history of civilizations, his confined and contracted description of geography may present a concern towards the readers. Geography covers the sphere of humanities and the social sciences. It does not merely take in purely geographical thoughts but also, it encompasses other related fields of study, especially in its investigation and description of the relationship between societies and the environment. Providing explanation for the disparities in wealth, control, and authority among world civilizations and diverse communities over time must take into consideration the social, economic, and geopolitical links, together with their connections to environmental traits and environmental change, in an effort to connect international, district and local levels of analysis. These descriptions must also take the impact of human thoughts and imagination, as well as the socio-cultural procedures in forming the geographical and environmental backdrop. In an attempt to take

Office Art Memo Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Office Art Memo - Research Paper Example From this paper it is clear that  the impressionist paintings include: A Matador, Young Woman with Ibis, and View of Vetheuil. ‘A Matador' impressionist art has color painted side by side with a little mixing, and it has a strongly colored ground. It was made by French, Edouard Manet. The ‘View of Vetheuil’ impressionist art was created in the year 1880 by Claude Monet, from France. The artwork also has a more vivid color with a light colored background. Besides, the painting is out- door with the shadowy effects detailed. On the other hand, the ‘Young Woman with Ibis’ impressionist work was an out- door painting and had no use of black color. The painting was made by a French woman, Edgar Degas, who was an impressionist. It was made in the year 1860 to 1862 and had an emphasis on natural light. The colors in the painting are placed side by side with no mixing.This discussion stresses that  there are several post-impressionist paintings and they in clude ‘Still Life with Teapot and Fruit’, ‘Tahitian Faces: Frontal Views and Profiles’, and ‘Road in Etten.’   Ã¢â‚¬ËœStill Life with Teapot and Fruit’ is non- naturalistic, even though simplified, and a trait that defies the principles of impressionist art. It has flowers hanging on their own without obeying the force of gravity. The artwork also has flat patches in bold colors, esoteric symbolism, and decorative line. Paul Gauguin, a renowned post- impressionist, made the artwork.

Darden Restaurants Company Deversity, Recruitment, Benefits Coursework

Darden Restaurants Company Deversity, Recruitment, Benefits - Coursework Example It also supports the diversity organizations in the community that includes African-American, Asians, Hispanics, Women, and the GLBT community (Darden Concepts, Inc. 1). Darden promotes the diversity of its workforce and suppliers by implementing various programs that include workforce diversity, supplier diversity, and diversity outreach (Darden Concepts, Inc. 1). The diversity in the company enables employees to maximize their full capacity. Profiles in Diversity Journal wrote the article, â€Å"Darden Restaurants–News Brief (Jan/Feb 2014)† in 2014. The article states that Darden Restaurants scored 100 % on the Human Rights Campaign 2014 Corporate Equality Index subject to its business practices and policies toward its LGBT employees (Profiles in Diversity Journal 1). The article quotes Darden’s senior vice president of culture who asserts that diversity and inclusion form the company’s success and future growth basis. The senior vice president of culture notes that Darden Restaurants embraces diversity to enrich the company’s corporate culture and enhance its performance. The article traces the company’s history of diversity policies to the acts of its founder. Indeed, in welcoming people in his first restaurant, during the time of racial segregation and discrimination, Bill Darden sent invites to diverse people (Profiles in Diversity Journal 1). Ultimately, the article states that Darden promotes the diversity of its workforce, suppliers and local communities by adopting diversity at the core of its culture (Profiles in Diversity Journal 1). Darden Restaurants employs more than 180,000 people in various restaurants (Darden Concepts, Inc. 1). Most employees working at Darden Restaurants have a passion for culinary excellence and loves hospitality (Great Rated 1). In hiring its employees, the company adores diversity by considering race,

How We Change Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

How We Change - Essay Example We have made this world a global village where it is more than just easy to move from one place to other in a matter of hours and communicate with each other in a blink. But, to gain something, we had to lose something and that something we lost to achieve this marvelous world of today is care for each other. Although we have every means of communication and stay connected, we have lost the will and time to say hello to our loved one. Peter Lovenheim in the article ‘wont you be my neighbor’ and William Deresiewicz in article ‘faux friendships’ most beautifully and with complete facts, describe these losses to mankind throughout its evolution and progression. Lovenheim describes our society of today in a way that it makes us all stop for a moment and think that ‘what and where we did something so wrong that we are at a stage of total societal collapse today. Although we have progressed and evolved a lot to provide us with all the facilities and necessities of life, we have no time to be with each other. We have the means as said by Lovenheim like internet, faster travelling routes and cheaper travelling expenses. We st ill find it so hard to meet each other in person and form a strong societal bonding. William Deresiewicz also explains the loss of mankind by stating that we, the men of 21st century are suffering from ‘facebook syndrome’. He states that because of so much advancement in technology, we are now dependent on it to communicate with each other. The author states by giving the example of friendships that we have forgotten to interact with each other on a more personal level. Friendships of today are limited to facebook and twitter etc. and it is the screen of our computers and smart phones that we are friends with rather than being friends with a real person. Both these articles show how the human species has changed over time. We have no time to be with each other and

Privacy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Privacy - Essay Example ual’s wish to remain obscured or relatively unnoticed from the public and security which can also be achieved by privacy in reference to the protection of information. Its importance has also been an issue that has been discussed on a large scale with relevance to how important it is for the existence of privacy within the society (Wack, 2010). An invasion of privacy refers to the intrusion of ones personal matters or the revelation of information to the public that an individual would have rather kept secret or away from the public eye. This invasion of privacy is the main opponent that individuals face in the fight to withhold information that they may not want others to know. There are a number of scenarios where privacy is upheld and it does not just deal with an individual on a personal level. There are different types of privacy that ca n be considered according to the particular situation that is being faced at that particular time. The types of privacy include: Personal Privacy – This type of privacy refers to an individual on a personal level where it is one person is involved. This usually has to do with the exposure of a person’s body to others. For example, a person usually prefers to be alone in certain situations such as taking a bath or changing their clothes because they would not like a person to see them in a state of undress (Solove, 2009). This can also be referred to as personal modesty. There is also the issue of privacy in terms of living conditions and relationships with those who may live next to you. This can be seen in the walls and fences that are erected around an individual’s personal property in a bid to maintain their coming and goings private (Wack, 2010). There is also the concept of curtains that are erected on windows to prevent people from being able to see inside a house. Personal privacy has always been in existence since the formation of societies as individuals have always wanted to keep certain aspects of their

Cloud Computing Service Models Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Cloud Computing Service Models - Assignment Example Likewise, the services provided over the Internet are referred as (Software as a Service) ‘SaaS’. There are few sellers who use the term (Infrastructure as a service) ‘IaaS’ and (Platform as a service) ‘PaaS’ in order to demonstrate their products and services. However, these terms are avoided and not accepted globally, due to variation. The Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have illustrated some helpful definitions that focus on three concepts (Reese 2009): Cloud infrastructure as a service ‘IaaS’ consists of provisioning elementary computing resources. Cloud software as a service ‘SaaS’ access software application that operates on a cloud infrastructure. Cloud platform as a service (PaaS) provides the accessibility to users for implementing and developing applications with programming language and tools supported by the providers. The core components of a cloud consist of the data center hardware and software. When these resources are publicly available, they are referred as public clouds and the service provided by the cloud is called as utility computing. Moreover, private clouds are only available to private organizations and are not accessible by the public. Accordingly, cloud computing is the combination of ‘SaaS’ and utility computing (ARMBRUST, FOX et al. 2010). There are three service models for cloud computing i.e. infrastructure as a service, platform as a service and software as a service (Wilshusen 2011). Infrastructure as a service (IaaS) is comprised of three components i.e. software, platform and infrastructure. Organizations only provide software and platform and infrastructure is provided by a third party cloud computing vendor. The second service models i.e. platform as a service (PaaS) also comprises of three components i.e. software, platform and infrastructure. Organizations only provide a software or application that will be executed on the third party or the vendor’s platform and infrastructure. The third service model also includes the similar three components as mentioned before and called as software as a service (SaaS). Organizations only utilize the services provided by the vendors in terms of applications that can be accessed by the Internet. All the three components i.e. software, platform and infrastructure are the property of the vendor (Wilshusen 2011). In figure 1.1, cloud deployment models are demonstrated Figure 1.1 (Retreived from :Wilshusen, G. C. (2011). INFORMATION SECURITY: Additional guidance needed to address cloud computing concerns. GAO Reports, , 1.) Cloud computing four service models are shown in Fig 1.2 Figure 1.2 (Retreived from :Wilshusen, G. C. (2011). INFORMATION SECURITY: Additional guidance needed to address cloud computing concerns. GAO Reports, , 1.) ‘Business Cloud’ must choose the relevant client model, as it will be proportional to t he business or customer requirements and may differ from organization to organization and business types. The first service model is called as the ‘Private Cloud’. A private cloud is solely a property of the organization i.e. software, platform and infrastructure is the property of the organization (Wilshusen 2011). The second service model is called as the community cloud that is accessible to several organizations that may be

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer - Essay Example Although Twain’s story is largely focused on the world from the perspective of little boys, he also gives the reader various insights into the adult world which runs parallel to it. The theme of superstition and religion may be seen throughout the narrative. Tom’s religious opinions and superstitions are compatible with each other and reflect adult society’s religious hypocrisy. Tom’s religious beliefs are very superficial. He names â€Å"David and Goliath† as two disciples (Twain, Ch.IV).   As it is compulsory to memorize five verses, Tom â€Å"chose part of the Sermon on the Mount, because he could find no verses that were shorter† (IV).   Sunday school is â€Å"a place that Tom hated with his whole heart (IV). Tom compares the boring church unfavorably with a circus, stating that â€Å"Church ain't shucks to a circus. There's things going on at a circus all the time† (VII). It is not his love of Scripture, but his love of glory , and his need to show-off in front of Bessie Thatcher, which leads him to barter his little knick-knacks for the colored tickets which earn him the prize of a Bible. Tom’s religious beliefs are compatible with superstitions. ... dead spirits, the only prayer Tom can manage is the bedtime â€Å"Now I lay me down to sleep.† When Injun Joe falsely accuse Muff Potter of murdering Dr. Robinson, Tom expects â€Å"God's lightening upon [Injun Joe's] head† as punishment† (XI). Tom and his friends say their prayers before sleeping on the pirate jaunt only because they fear â€Å"lest they might call down a sudden and special thunderbolt from heaven† (XIII). Tom’s religious beliefs are very alike superstitions. Tom’s life is filled with superstitions, which often dictate the course of his actions. An effective cure for warts ranges from â€Å"spunk-water† and charms, to split beans and blood. Of course, the efficacy of dead cats is the superstition which leads to the biggest of Tom’s adventures. Tom uses incantations to look for lost marbles. When the stairs creak at night, it is evidence that â€Å"spirits were abroad† (IX). An oath is to be sworn in blood for it to be binding. A dog howling is a sign of approaching death. Buried treasure is to be found under a tree when â€Å"the shadow of the limb falls at midnight, a guarded by a dead man† (XXV). Witches have no power in the daytime and Fridays are unlucky days. Here again, the boys meld religion and superstition. Old Mother Hopkins bewitches people by â€Å"saying the Lord's Prayer backards† (VI). The holiness of the Sabbath ensures that â€Å"Devils don't slosh around much of a Sunday, I don't reckon† (VI). Finally, it is clear that Tom’s superstitions serve the main purpose of making life more interesting and banishing the boredom of daily routine. When Huck tires of life with the Widow Douglas, Tom prevents him from running away by promising adventures as part of his gang of â€Å"respectable† robbers. It is the anticipation of an initiation

History and Archives Essay Example for Free

History and Archives Essay She was born in Moscow, Russia and spent all her childhood and most of her young years in the Soviet Union. She went to school in Moscow from 1973 to 1983, for 10 years. At school she was very interested in history especially in ancient history. She loved to read books about history of Egypt, Italy and Mexico and also started to develop an interest in how the people live in different countries and why they all are different in some ways and the same in other ways. During her childhood every summer she went to different camps, where she met new people from different republics (that now after the crash of the USSR they are all different countries. In 1983 she was admitted to Moscow Order of Honor State University of History and Archives. She was there for 6 years and received a Diploma for Master of History and Archival Science. While at the University she witnessed the last years of the Great Empire of the Soviet Union and its Collapse. She saw how people started to change when their lives were drastically changed by Perestroika. She saw how families collapsed under the strains of a new social and economic system which imposed new financial hardship and drastic even overnight changes in societal norms. She saw how children from those families reacted to escalating divorce rates and how their lives changed for the worse. Deep interest in history and cultures of different countries led her to explore on human behavior, their similarities and differences. †¢ Having grown up in a totalitarian system and experiencing the perceived freedoms we enjoy here, she have an appreciation for issues related to how human beings deal with different pressures and expectations. †¢ In the time that she was with people from other cultural backgrounds, she developed a great appreciation for the differences in cultural traditions and social behavior. †¢ She pursued this interest and took up a master’s course in History and Archival Science. †¢ As she witnessed the tragic collapse of her nation, she saw how society as a whole abandoned the notion of Social responsibility and any feelings of obligation to others that were mandated by the government at one time were replaced with a vacuum that left many in search of a new vision of their place in society. †¢ She observed how people react when their dreams and expectations taste the bitterness of reality and adjust to changes and stress and most of the times take up the negative route and enter into alcoholism, drug abuse, prostitution, felony. Personality The collapse of society happened almost overnight. It was shocking to her that the transformation of millions within such a short time, and to the extent of that transformation. Unfortunately it did not getting better; in fact it started to affect her. She now faced to adapt to her changing environment after adhering so closely to my traditional beliefs of honor and respect. Later she adapted to a new marriage and followed her spouse to the US. The move to the US was a very drastic change for her at that time. A totally different country, traditions, language and social norms. She had some difficult time in adjusting and understanding that country. Yet another adaptation was required of her. Her daughter was born and once again she was entering a different world with no guidance. She found her â€Å"loving† husband of 20 years cheating on her with another woman. This was not what she expected in the least. Her life made no sense. Her beliefs that were honed for so many years were critically tasked. This new information made the pathways in her brain over taxed. This was not what she could accept. But she had too. There was no other reality. Still it took her years to grasp with that reality. Much as others deal with change she had trouble. It was her dispassionate belief that with coaching, that people could deal with a fast changing environment, including a new economic and social reality. She ended with a divorce. She then even had to adjust and live with the situation when her little girl was taken from her based on fraudulent allegations that swayed a person (one of many) who was the judge. Her heart was cut; she was drowning in ocean of emotions, and ones again in her life for the purpose to survive. †¢ After the collapse of her nation, she began reading books on psychology, philosophy and religion, in order to adjust to the drastic change and realized that adaptation was the greatest tool that humans possessed. †¢ For the purpose of dealing with the new challenges confronting her after the birth of her daughter, she began to educate herself through reading in order to learn more about the child development and psychology. †¢ When she found her husband cheating on her, she could not accept it. But she had too. There was no other reality. She took years to grasp with that reality. She faced troubles initially but dispassionately believed that with coaching, that people can deal with a fast changing environment, including a new economic and social reality. †¢ To get through her divorce, she returned to reading books on psychology and started to speak with counselors and therapists. She learned an incredible amount of practical applications of behavioral and cognitive tools she could use to adapt to this latest crisis. By reading and learning more she developed the desire to help and support people who face change and find it hard to adapt. She learnt enough to allow her to make a greater impact on how to teach people from an early age to handle change and look for ways to adapt that benefit society has a whole. She realized that her way, she and many others can adapt to new environmental stresses can and must be influenced by people who can motivate people who can show them how to deal with situations that were never expected. Whether it is dealing with a Cultural Revolution, and actual revolution, a great upheaval, a great loss, or a custody battle in a divorce or more recently fuel prices that will effect the poor’s heating in Northern states, peoples’ financial stresses; people need to have help in guiding them through these transitions, and she wanted to make a difference in this way. She understood how different people are and how the behaviors of various groups are allowed to flourish. This dichotomy intrigued her as it would seem that a healthy society had to strike for some balance. She loved to explore the issue at greater length and have some guidance in understanding socio-psychological issues. She was not so much interested in pathology as she was in theoretical psychology of social norms and patterns along with how to setup systems to manage the needs of individuals along with the pressures of societal needs and peaceful coexistence. She wished to use adaptation tool to grow as a person. She looked for something to help her on this journey and I thought a respected school and her desire together could be used to help other’s who have undergone serious social stresses in life, while maintaining a positive social framework in which they can function. In this way she was on her way to growth. References Pavlov, â€Å"Conditioned Reflex† (1903), [Internet], Available at http://www. pbs. org/wgbh/aso/databank/entries/bhpavl. html, Accessed on: 3 August 2009 Skinner,† The Behavior of Organism† (1936), [Internet], Available athttp://www. pbs. org/wgbh/aso/databank/entries/bhskin. html, Accessed: on 3 August 2009

Buddhist schools Essay Example for Free

Buddhist schools Essay The earliest and the most basic form of schools were Theravada and Mahayana which have been derived from the basic teachings of Buddha. These are actually same teachings but with different interpretations. Both of them have Dharma which is the basic teaching of Buddha. Both of these schools have some animosity between them. All the southern Asian countries and Vietnam have accepted the principles of Theravada. Any differences between the schools are minor matters are do not hinder in one basic belief of Buddha’s teachings. It is one of the earliest forms of teaching found in the history of Buddhism and is one of the most orthodox also . Theravada school emphasizes on meditation and helps in understanding the psychological nature of a human being. According to Mahayana school of teachings, salvation can only be achieved if we trust Amitabha. Such person longs to be born in the paradise, because he has done good deeds and followed the teachings of Buddha. The philosophy of this school is very unique. According to them in order to gain enlightenment a person should inward and not outward. Intuition is one thing this school emphasizes upon, as intuition is purely inward. Mahayana was previously known as Mahasanghikas and after a few decades of its formation it became so popular that it revolutionized the Buddhist teachings. Sutra and Vinaya were translated according to them, and in the due process they also had to reject some texts. The Mahayana philosophy grew more with the concept that Buddhas are lokottara. This means that they are connected to the world only by some external force and it has no impact internally . Why did Mahayana become more accepted? It is because the Mahayana ritual and imagery attracted the Vietnamese. Its ceremonies were in conformity with original Vietnamese beliefs and rituals. This school of Buddhism also combined folklore with Taoist teachings. The enlightened ones in Buddhism were respected as animist spirits. In 7th century C. E, Mahayana school became a little more developed. It was then called Vajrayana. This had an influence of Hinduism also but had similar teachings as of Mahayana. The aim of Vajrayana is the same as that in Mahayana, that is to attain Buddhahood, but the tantric practices showed a quick way to achieve this end . CONCLUSION From very early period Buddhists are concerned about education. In third century almost 9 Dhamma missionaries were sent to different areas of south East Asia in order to teach people about Buddhism . This is the oldest example telling Buddhists concern about Buddhist studies. These 9 Dhamma missionaries started a wave of missionaries. These were sent to Sri Lanka, Thailand and china etc. Today, due to these missionaries and Buddhist schools, Buddhists are present in very corner of the world. Vietnamese Buddhist education leaders are very much concerned about the global demands and needs of Buddhist education. In 1975, when the country got united, there already was a higher education institution in South; it was named Van Hanh University. This university was popular internationally and had close interaction with many other universities of the world. After 1980s two advanced schools were established in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City. These schools trained monks and nuns at B. A level. Due to growing demand these two higher education schools were later turned in to universities. These now trained monks and nuns at not only undergraduate level but also postgraduate level. In 1997, one more Buddhist university was formed, this time in Hue city. Today, there are almost 40, 000 monks and nuns. There are almost six colleges and 31 high schools teaching Buddhism . Buddhism has made great progress in Vietnam. A national calligraphic system which replaced Chinese was also introduced. This helped everybody get on the same platform and understand each other well. Before that it was difficult to have the entire nation on the same page, as the Vietnamese language lacked its own script. People, who did not understand Chinese, could not read books, as all the books were in Chinese. In Vietnam, the Buddhist studies do not influence just art, philosophy or painting. Theatre also serves as a conveyer of the legends, stories and facts about Buddhism. Buddhism is not only a source which quenches the thirst of the intellectuals. It quenches the thirst of the spirit also. Buddhist studies have changed the past and present of Vietnam. The Vietnamese Buddhists go far and wide in order to give a vent to the knowledge and impart it to the others. Buddhism has prospered leaps and bounds in the country. Though there are many rival religions in the country, Buddhism is by far the most popular one. As mentioned earlier, almost two thirds of the population practices Buddhism. During 968 it was made the state religion. Buddhism in Vietnam is no wonder superior than any other religion there, as it is not only accepted publicly but also helped in the moral and spiritual training of the general public. People believe it and accept it by heart. They call it the religion of compassion. The imprint of Buddhism can be seen in art and literature as well. Music has also been inspired from it. Today there are almost 15,000 worship places in Vietnam as compared to none in the beginning. There are almost ten million Buddhists all over the world. Vietnam alone has some 40,000 nuns. It was only 20,000 twenty years back. The development Buddhist studies have done can be clearly understood from the fact that today there are almost four Buddhist universities as compared to only one in 1981. Van Hanh was the first Buddhist school. Today there are schools all over Hanoi, Hue, Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho. There are almost six colleges and 31 high schools for Buddhists. There are uncountable numbers of grassroots schools in many other provinces. This clearly shows that Buddhism has made a lot of progress since Buddhism first entered Vietnam . Buddhist monks are now not only studyin Buddhism in monasteries and colleges but are getting higher education all over the world. They are studying various subjects and religion in order to increase their knowledge. Not only have they had attained worldly knowledge, but spiritual knowledge which will lead them to enlightenment. References Anson, Binh. (n. d). Theravada Buddhism in Vietnam. Retrieved January 31, 2008 from: http://www. budsas. org/ebud/vn_thera. htm Brough, John. (n. d). Gandhari Dharmapada. India (n. p). Clark, Laura and Brown, Suzanne. (n. d). Buddhism in Vietnam. Retrieved January 31, 2008 from: http://journals. iranscience. net:800/mcel. pacificu. edu/mcel. pacificu. edu/as/students/vb/INDEX. HTM.