Money and Happiness, It Never Works Together Essay

Often times if you inherit a large amount of money your life can change forever much like in a lottery, however if you are not careful you may just be the opposite of happy. However, businessmen who earn their money are proud of it, just ask lottery winners who have had their lives altered because of that. Well, in Goodbye, Columbus the Patimkin family act a lot like lottery winners, Mr. Patimkin a wealthy businessman has a spoiled family who in actually doesn’t seems happy with their wealth. As more and more problems started to arise with money, things started to unravel with the family. In Goodbye Columbus, Phillip Roth shows that Brenda and her mother’s tensions over money, Brenda’s lifestyle decisions about money (including the nose job), and the obvious generation gap shows that financial success does not always lead to happiness. Brenda and her mother have issues about money, and Brenda’s apparent laziness over having maids leads her to believe she can do whatever she wants. They fight over Brenda’s view on her not appreciating the value of money, since her mother tells her â€Å"You ought to earn some money and buy your own clothes†, but Brenda always thinks she doesn’t have to earn her money and â€Å"daddy† should buy her clothes and nose jobs for her. Not only that, they fight about work ethic because Brenda thinks the maid should do everything and her mother think she is lazy for it was said by Brenda’s mother â€Å"You ought to learn what a day’s work means.† (64). Brenda however doesn’t think that way, in fact she think she thinks she’s â€Å"†¦not a slave†¦I’m a daughter† which gives readers the impression that she is a brat, and that she does not appreciate the value of hard work or money. Brenda’s mother also believes Brenda is lazy, and Brenda thinks the maids can do all the dishes and housework: â€Å"When’s the last time you washed the dishes†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢Jesus Christ!’†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢Carlotta washes the dishes!† this shows Brenda has a mindset that because she is rich she doesn’t have to do anything. Therefore, Brenda and her mother’s constant fighting show that they have plenty of tension between them to prove that money never has led to personal happiness. While Brenda and her mother have personal issues that lead to money not giving them happiness, Brenda’s personal decisions & her lifestyle have dictated her way on not being happy with money. Brenda always has a mindset that her maids Carlotta and Jenny do everything when in reality, she is the one that needs to be doing work, as this was stated during her fight with her mother: â€Å"My god, mother you’d think we didn’t have Carlota and Jenny† (64). She because of her monetary status (being wealthy) she assumes that she doesn’t have any chores to do, however her mother thinks Brenda should help more around the house (and in a way calls her spoiled): â€Å"When is the last time you lifted a finger to help around here?†, therefore in a way their social and economic status had led to money being a problem because of their fighting. Brenda’s lifestyle choices also dictate why money doesn’t always bring happiness, for example Brenda wanted a nose job to smooth out the bumps in it, but in reality she wanted to look prettier: â€Å"I’m pretty. Now I’m prettier.† If someone wanted to look prettier, they could have spent less money on her, but instead Brenda spent a thousand dollars on the nose job just to be prettier. The generation gap between the Patimkin parent’s and children could also explain why money doesn’t always lead to happiness. Mr. Patimkin explains that he wasn’t as wealthy as his was now, instead he â€Å"†¦had (to buy) forks and knives for the five and ten.†(95) Which means he bought his things from nickel and dime â€Å"discount† stores (like the Dollar Store) when he was a kid. However he then goes on to say that his kids â€Å"†¦need gold to eat off of†(95) which implies that they are spoiled, however he isn’t angry at his kids instead he is happy he can pass on his current wealth to them â€Å"but here was no anger far from it. However, his kids (the next generation) are exactly the opposite, instead of buying thinks from discount stores and working hard they are getting nose jobs, relying on their maids, and going to country clubs which are all things upper class people do. There defiantly is a generation gap between the working class Mr. and Mrs. Patimkin, and the spoiled Brenda, Ron, and even Julie Patimkin. The Patimkins are not a dysfunctional family by any means, in fact they are a loving family by many aspects, they respect each other, and in the end it is money that implodes the family. It is unknown if the family’s generation gap is filled, but judging by the attitude of the children it seems that they may never be happy in their spirits. And while it seems that money is keeping them happy on the surface, maybe it is money that is driving them apart. Just ask anyone that ever won the lottery and you will know that their lives have change drastically, much like the Patimkins live have changed once they realized that.

Health Insurance For The Poor Health And Social Care Essay

For people populating below poorness line, a wellness job non merely represents a kind of lasting menace to their income earning capacity, most of the times it consequences in the household falling into a debt trap. Whenever the necessity to acquire the intervention arises for hapless households they by and large ignore it because of deficiency of resources, fearing pay loss, or may be wait till the last minute finally when it ‘s excessively late. Even when the hapless do make up one's mind to obtain the coveted wellness attention it eats their nest eggs, forces them to sell their belongings or to slit other of import disbursement like kids ‘s instruction ) The ultimate end of wellness attention funding is to accomplish cosmopolitan wellness attention coverage for all. Social wellness insurance is a mechanism for pull offing and financing wellness attention through pooling of wellness hazards of its members on the one manus, and the fiscal parts of endeavors, families, and the authorities, on the other. SHI ( Social Health Insurance ) is â€Å" a fiscal protection mechanism for wellness attention, through wellness hazard sharing and fund pooling for a larger group of population † .1.2 Introduction about RSBY:Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana or RSBY started from 1st April 2008 after a critical reappraisal was done of the bing and earlier wellness insurance strategies. RSBY has been launched by Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India to supply wellness insurance coverage for Below Poverty Line ( BPL ) households. The â€Å" nonsubjective † of RSBY is to supply protection to BPL families from fiscal liabilities originating out of wellness dazes that involve hospitalization. Beneficiaries under RSBY are entitled to hospitalization coverage up to Rs. 30,000/- for most of the diseases that require hospitalization.1.3 Eligibility and BenefitsUnorganized workers belonging to BPL class and their household members. Recently, other classs of people were besides added to the range of the RSBY. They include edifice and other building workers, MNREGA donees, street sellers, beedi workers and house servants. This enlargement has created an added patient volume to be taken attention of. Coverage extends to five members of the household which includes the caput of family, partner and up to three dependants. It covers preexistent conditions and there is no age bound. Entire amount insured would be Rs. 30000/- per household per annum on a household floater footing. Cashless attending to all covered complaints. Transportation system costs with an overall bound of Rs.1000/- for which no cogent evidence entry is required. Beneficiaries need to pay merely Rs. 30/- as the enrollment fee while the Central and State Government pays the premium to the insurance company selected on the footing of a competitory command by the province authorities.1.4 Unique characteristics of RSBY1.4.1 A concern theoretical account strategy For a societal sector scheme the strategy has been designed as a concern theoretical account strategy with inducements built for each interest holder which is contributing for enlargement and sustainability. 1.4.2 Empowering the donee RSBY provides the take parting BPL family with freedom of pick between public and private infirmaries. A infirmary has the inducement to supply intervention to big figure of donees as it is paid per donee treated. Even public infirmaries have the inducement to handle donees under RSBY as the money from the insurance company will travel straight to the concerned public infirmary can be used by them for their ain intents. 1.4.3 IT ( Information Technology ) Intensive For the first clip IT applications are being used for societal sector strategy on such a big graduated table. Every beneficiary household is issued a biometric enabled smart card incorporating their fingerprints and exposure, around 32,423,483 cards have been issued till 7/9/12. All the infirmaries empanelled under RSBY are IT enabled and connected to the waiter at the territory degree. This helps to guarantee a smooth information flow sing service use sporadically. 1.4.4 Safe and sap cogent evidence Insurance companies, in contrast, will supervise the participating infirmaries in order to forestall fraud or unneeded processs ensuing in inordinate claims. It besides attempts to better the operation of public wellness suppliers via advancing a healthy competition between public and private suppliers. By paying merely a upper limit amount up to Rs. 750/- per household per twelvemonth, the Government is able to supply entree to quality wellness attention to the below poorness line population.1.5 Functioning of RSBY as a strategy1.5.1 Financing of RSBY The Government of India ( GOI ) provides 75 % funding while the remainder 25 % is provided by the State authorities. The choice of a public or private insurance company is done through the procedure of competitory command undertaken by State authorities. 1.5.2 Selection of wellness insurance company and Empanelment of Health Care Providers The choice of the wellness insurance supplier shall be done by the province through tendering procedure ask foring both Public and Private Insurers for better footings of mention. Merely those insurance companies which are licensed by the Insurance Regulatory Development Authority ( IRDA ) are included in the procedure. The State Government would explicate the undertakings and find the implementing bureau such as Insurance Trust/ Insurance Cell/ Mother NGO etc. to monitor/supervise the strategy and integrate with insurance company. This would be farther monitored at State and Central degree. After the insurance company is selected, they need to impanel both public and private wellness attention suppliers in the undertaking and nearby territories. The empanelment of the infirmaries is done based on prescribed standards which shall be done every bit shortly as the insurance company gets the contract and it can go on at the same time with the registration of the donees. The insurance company shall impanel adequate infirmaries in the territory so that donees need non go really far to acquire the heath attention services. The insurance company besides needs to organize with several wellness section of the province. These infirmaries are required to put in necessary hardware and package so that smart card minutess can be processed. They should besides put up a particular RSBY desk with a trained staff. The hospital list should let for both public and private infirmaries who agree to take part. At the clip of registration the insurance company must besides supply a list of RSBY empanelled infirmaries, to the donees. When empanelment takes topographic point, a nationally alone infirmary ID figure is generated so that minutess can be tracked at each infirmary. 1.5.3 Role of IT in RSBY/ Smart Cards The usage of biometric enabled smart card and a cardinal direction system makes this scheme safe and foolproof. The biometric enabled smart card ensures that merely the existent donee can utilize the smart card. The cardinal characteristic of RSBY is that a beneficiary enrolled in a peculiar territory will be able to utilize his/ her smart card in any RSBY empanelled hospital across India. This characteristic makes the strategy truly alone and good to the hapless households that migrate from one topographic point to the other. A donee of RSBY gets cashless benefit in any of the empanelled infirmaries. He/ she merely needs to transport his/ her smart card and supply confirmation through his/ her finger print. 1.5.4 Use of services by donees The dealing procedure begins when the member visits the active infirmary. After making the infirmary, donee will see the RSBY aid desk at infirmary where his individuality will be verified by the smart card. If a diagnosing leads to a hospitalization, the helper at the aid desk checks whether the process is in the list of pre-specified bundles. If the process is in the list, the appropriate prescribed bundle is selected from the bill of fare. If the process is non in the bundle list, the aid desk helper cheques with the insurance company sing the monetary value for that process. Upon release of the donee from the infirmary, the card is once more swiped along with finger print confirmation and the pre-specified cost of the process is deducted from the sum available on the card. The donee is besides paid by the infirmary Rs. 100 as transit disbursal at the clip of the discharge. 1.5.5 Claim colony After the service is rendered to the patient, the infirmaries need to direct an electronic study to the insurer/ Third Party Administrator ( TPA ) . The Insurer/ TPA after traveling through the records information will do the payment to the infirmary within a specified clip period which has been agreed between the Insurer and the infirmary. 1.5.6 Monitoring and rating Information associating to minutess taking topographic point each twenty-four hours at each infirmary is sent through a phone line to a territory waiter. A separate set of pre-formatted tabular arraies are generated for the insurance company and for the authorities severally. This allows the insurance company to track claims, reassign financess to the infirmaries and investigate in the instance of leery claim forms through on-site audits.1.6 Impact of RSBY on wellness attention use1.6.1 Penetration of RSBY Scheme Since its induction, 26 States including 1 brotherhood district have advertised about it. So far, out of these 26 provinces, the registration procedure and empanelment of infirmaries has been initiated in merely 22 provinces. Out of a entire 631 territories in India, BPL households shacking in 399 territories were selected for obtaining RSBY screen. It is of import to observe that provinces in which the registration procedure has been completed, the entire BPL households enrolled, out of the selected BPL population, are merely approximately 57 % . Though the incursion of the strategy has non been every bit high as expected. This might be due to really low degree of consciousness and instruction among the multitudes about the benefits of the strategy, or possibly to the complicated procedural or deficiency of earnestness in the execution of the strategy. But the plan is even operational in Naxal-prone territories ( such as Rayagarh, Sambalpur and Deogarh ) , which have experienced much anti-government force and snatchs. 1.6.2 Utilization of wellness attention benefits under RSBY strategy The RSBY strategy has used the public private partnership ( PPP ) theoretical account for the empanelment of infirmaries in the strategy. Hence, both public and private wellness attention suppliers have been empanelled under the strategy. So far more than 4,000 infirmaries ( out of which 75 % infirmaries are private infirmaries ) have been empanelled and more than half a million in population have obtained intervention in these infirmaries. The high degree of engagement of private infirmaries shows the success and credence of the strategy among private infirmaries. The use of health care installations under RSBY strategy is highest in the province of Kerala and lowest in instance of province of Assam. The empanelment of the figure of infirmaries for BPL households in each province is really unevenly distributed 1.6.3 Nature of disease intervention under RSBY The insured BPL households are using insurance screen most of the times ( i.e. approx two tierce of respondents ) for chronic diseases such as hernia, kidney diseases, haemorrhoids, high blood pressure, and nutritionary lacks etc. The 2nd most of import usage of RSBY screen is to acquire intervention for acute conditions like enteric fever, dandy fever febrility, diarrhoea, enteric fever, viral hepatitis, rubeolas, malaria, and TB. Among the nature of intervention received, both surgical and medical intervention has an about tantamount portion i.e. 46 % surgical and 54 % medical intervention. 1.6.4 Substitution of use of no/informal wellness installation to formal wellness installations Though with the debut of the RSBY strategy, the handiness to, and use of, the formal health care system has improved among BPL households, but at the same clip still there is long manner to travel as most of the population ( i.e. more than 70 % of BPL population of India ) has yet non been covered under the RSBY Scheme. 1.6.5 Impact of RSBY on wellness results Since the RSBY strategy was launched merely a few old ages ago, it is non possible see its impact in footings of the decrease of mortality rate, disease load, and disablement. studies conducted by the ministry so far have indicated a beneficiary satisfaction ratio runing between 77 % and 92 % . Access to the infirmaries for the hapless has gone up from 1.7 % to 2.7 % , harmonizing to the National Sample Survey Organization 1.6.6 Dissemination of information and cognition about RSBY The word of oral cavity spreading, interaction with ASHA, ANMs, AWWs, Aanganwadi Workers and Loudspeaker proclamations were the most of import beginning of information and cognition about the RSBY strategy among donees. It is seen that though donees of the strategy are cognizant of the rudimentss of the strategy, like the sum of entire coverage available, figure of household members covered, and sum required to pay for acquiring enrollment etc, there awareness related to assorted entitlements granted by the strategy like transit costs, nature of interventions covered, coverage for disbursals on Out Patient Department ( OPD ) intervention was really hapless. This low consciousness could take to struggles, moral jeopardies ( over/mis use of wellness attention installations ) and dissatisfactions among donees. 1.6.7 Impact of the RSBY strategy on economic result Micro wellness insurance, hence, involves a direct economic load ab initio placed on the insurance company who clears the hospitalization outgo on the behalf of the insured and of the Government who pays the insurance premium on the behalf of the BPL family. Other than the direct costs, selling and disposal costs besides add to the economic load. Higher claim colony rates and disposal costs result in high claim/loss rates, casts uncertainties on the long-run sustainability of wellness insurance strategies. States like Gujarat, Haryana, and Kerala show a high claim ratio. This high claim ratio is bespeaking a prevalence of over use of wellness services i.e. moral jeopardies, projecting uncertainties on the long-run sustainability of the RSBY. 1.6.8 Impact of the RSBY strategy on behaviour of BPL families While insurance companies pay for the majority of the cost in instance of a private system, authorities pools are used if proviso is public, the consumer pays merely a little portion of the entire cost i.e. out-of pocket on ingestion of the wellness service. Irrespective of how wellness attention is financed, one fact is that one time people have fallen ill they face inducements to devour more than optimum wellness attention, since they do non hold to pay the full marginal cost for the attention they utilize. The wellness economic sciences literature refers to this sort of behaviour as a moral jeopardy. The use of formal of wellness installations has increased significantly after the micro wellness insurance screen under the RSBY. This is supported reported by National Sample Survey Organization 60th the figure of hospitalization instances for Monthly Per Capita Consumer Expenditure ( MPCE ) , less than INR 253. The per centum of BPL population hospitalized across India has increased from 0.28 % ( in twelvemonth 2005 ) to 2.69 % , 2.39 % and 1.5 % of enrolled BPL population in the provinces of Kerala, Gujarat and Haryana severally. Hence, hypothesis 1 about the increased use of the Health attention installation ( No. of hospitalization ) after the RSBY execution was supported. Switching penchants ( from populace to private infirmaries ) of donees. Similar phenomenon can be seen in footings of the altering penchants of the donees from public to private infirmaries. These changed penchants and behavior show window the presence of moral jeopardies in the RSBY strategy every bit good, l ike other wellness insurance strategies.

Eusebius Pamphili Essay

Eusebius Pamphili, also called Eusebius of Caesarea, is one of the key figures ever documented in the field of church history writing/narration. He took into account essential happenings about a specific event and made accounts for people of great importance in the christian realm. Eusebius was exposed to events and he himself was an eyewitness of some martyrdom in several occasions like what happened in the persecution of Christianity in the time of the many Roman emperors. He was famous for his two historical works: â€Å"Chronicle† and â€Å"Church History†. He also wrote several books which served as references by many people like the â€Å"Apology for Origen†, â€Å"Praeparatio de Evangelica† (Preparation for the Gospel), â€Å"Demostratio Evangelica† (Proof of the Gospel), and other scholarly works that possesses historical values in itself. He appended supplements on the work, â€Å"On the Theology of the Church† to preserve the Nicene doctrine of the Logos against Athanasius principles. But perhaps another historical mark for Eusebius was his detailed accounts in the lives of the martyrs of the Palestine, Origen, and others. He also claimed that he witnessed persecutions in Egypt and Tyre. Furthermore, his prominent works in heresy hunting was also successful, an attribute only a few individual have during his time. His works, being focused in several Christian doctrines and teachings, is what makes it valuable for Christians today. This does not necessarily mean all his teachings were of absolute truth, but the fact that his works can be studied either to resolve or abhor the philosophy which depends on the bias and principle of the reader. Claiming that he had opportunities to witness such brutality made to the early Christians, it is therefore valuable to read his accounts for the readers to assess his claims as well as to consider his claims or despise the same. 1 The focal point of his work is to narrate in a very explicit way possible what transpired during that specific event based on Eusebius accounts and other writings. Taking into account what happened during the persecution experienced by Christians during that period by the authorities is also one of the main points of his writing. The so-called â€Å"Martyrs of Christ† were also mentioned in the book including the method of execution applied unto them. Having burned live, fed into wild beasts, and other mutilation process were clearly stated in the book. Moreover, he made a careful manifestation on the essential parts of the book by giving commentaries which had disputable issues involved. He also expressed contrasts in the claims of Eusebius by including accounts from other manuscripts as well, and stating its case in contrary to Eusebius claims. One clear example would be on the issue of the questionable escape by Eusebius from the persecution while the rest of his company suffered. Eusebius claimed that he escaped through the help of his friends from the authority. However, he was accused by others that he denied the faith, the main reason why he escaped from the prison. Another excerpt from the book would be the concern on his teachings regarding the basic Christian doctrine as again being challenged by other Christians. The contents of the book tackle on numerous historical accounts which are very important in studying the church history. Eusebius accounts, as well as others’ writings must be acknowledged by those who ventures into the history of the early Christians. Describing explicitly the tortures experienced by early Christians, the author carried out the gravity of the said affliction. These reasons, the author believed were some of the factors why the book had to be furnished. Critical commentaries were in scripted by the writer of the book. He clearly included both sides of the issues whenever there are conflicting sides arguing for a specific event stated. Credibility of the author depends on where he got the details included in his writing, as well as on how he presented those data he gathered. Since these issues were clearly evident in the writing of this manuscript, one can say that the author’s credibility should not be in question. There are other writers who did a great job expounding the history of the church. They also claimed reliable sources as to where they acquired the details of their writings. They presented their commentaries with objectivity, making them a likely author. These descriptions cited were also integrated in the works of the author mentioned in this entire assessment. Readers of this generation would be having a clear insight on the topics included in the manuscript made by the author. They can either approve or detest some of the details written but this writing would surely provide them a good reference in studying church history. They can also witness the author’s independent view on certain issues in the history of the church. Aside from all of these, this book should also be treated as a supplement on the topic of persecutions of the early Christians and the other details in a particular regime of past Roman emperors. The substance of a manuscript depends on several factors which includes its intrinsic importance and on how appropriate the book is in its field. This work made a great contribution in narrating events which focused on the writings of Eusebius. Stating all the ideas and principles incorporated in this writing, there is no way that this manuscript be given less importance, particularly in the grounds of studying the history of Christianity. From narrating the life of Eusebius, his circumstances, his accounts on the persecution of Christians and other relevant accounts made this book commendable.

Human Resources for Industry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Human Resources for Industry - Essay Example Moreover, it has become a more complicated task to find and utilise workforce for highly specialised positions. Thus, there is more importance of human resource management in organisations than ever before. This paper will try to analyse the importance of HR management, the present day challenges faced by HR management in common, the different ways the HR managements usually adopt to cope up with the changes, the changing nature of workplace, and some modern studies into HR management. The Role and Importance of HR management One can undoubtedly say that the role of HR has increased tremendously in all organisations. The role of Human Resource Management in the 21st century starts from the board room to the market place. The challenges before HR managers in the twenty-first century, according to Bohlander and Snell (2007, p.5) are going global, embracing new technology, managing change, managing talent or human capital, responding to the market, and containing costs. In recent years, more attention is paid to how the human resource management affects organisation’s overall performance than to what practices are adopted in human resource management. ... For example, the Vodafone Company, started in England in 1982 has now operations in Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East, Africa, and the Americas. In addition, the GlaxoSmithKline has its origin and headquarters in UK, Consumer Products headquarters in Pennsylvania, and major centre for biopharmaceutical products in Germany, Canada, and USA. It sometimes becomes necessary to assess the skill of a foreign workforce, translation of some materials into regional languages, training for foreign workforce, and many a time, deciding the compensation for foreign employees. The onslaught of new technology The advent of technology made it possible for organisations to store, retrieve and analyse data easily. As a result, the nature of the workplace changed a lot. Instead of the large number of workforce of the past that required only little knowledge, today, the job positions require considerable amount of skill and the present jobs involve a lot of planning, decision making and problem solving. In addition, the present workplace more often requires retraining of employees when they are displaced. Human Resource Management too has changed considerably through the use of technology. The first and foremost development is the adoption of human resources information system (HRIS), thus making response times, decision making, and customer service faster and easier. In UK, the National Health Service has started implementing the Electronic Staff Record, a national, fully integrated payroll system. Many other UK firms too have same form of HRIS in use. The first advantage of this system is greater efficiency and reduced cost. For example, Cisco Systems have developed an intranet system which helps them save about

Analysis of Section 2-204 of the Uniform Contract Code Assignment

Analysis of Section 2-204 of the Uniform Contract Code - Assignment Example The offer has to be accepted and this acceptance has to be communicated to the other party. The acceptance has to be with respect to a particular consideration. Such consideration has to be in respect to the contract which is formed. The consideration is the purpose behind which every contract is formed. After the acceptance and the communication of the same, the contract starts to exist. Purpose and Function of Uniform Commercial Code: â€Å"The Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), a comprehensive code addressing most aspects of commercial law, is generally viewed as one of the most important developments in American law.† â€Å"This body of law, created by a private author, aimed to create a uniform scheme applicable to the sale of goods and commercial transactions. The UCC applies to the sales of goods and commercial transactions. The sales of goods involve the buying and selling of tangible items, such as boxes of a product. Commercial transactions include primarily banking tra nsactions and are considered debt instruments.† Understanding from the above notions with respect to the Uniform Commercial Code, we can ascertain that the Uniform Commercial Code governs and manages all the contracts formed within the different territories of the United States of America. The Uniform Commercial Code basically creates a uniform scheme and system for all the contracts which are formed in the United States of America. The Uniform Commercial Code, therefore, is a procedural and a substantive law which overlooks the affairs of all the contractual obligations taken forwards in the realm of the contract law in the United States of America. Contract of Sale: In order to understand the contract of sale, here is an example which shall help explain the infer functioning and the working of the contract for sale. Don, who is a shopkeeper, has an Apple showroom. He is running the Apple showroom in Oklahoma and manages all the Apple products.  Ã‚  

Social And Legal Aspects Of Computing Assignment

Social And Legal Aspects Of Computing - Assignment Example However, in this case study Susan failed to protect details of her group members by selling the data to businessman and mishandling the backup information which was stored in a USB stick. The information was not available to the users since the database became in accessible and Susan misplaced the only back up that was available. Personal details should also be kept in such a manner that they will portray the accuracy to the users. To achieve this, it is vital for the data to be kept in a place where they cannot be altered without the consent of the owners (Theda & Mary 2010). In the case study, Susan had written information which was irrelevant such as the details regarding the Caroline relationship with her former boyfriend Tom. Such information did not add any value to the information for the purpose it was intended for. Furthermore, Susan allowed another personal to use the data illegally which could result to its loss in authenticity. In addition, Susan forgot the secondary devi ce in which the data was stored, and this created a loophole for other people to access private data which they could alter to suit their personal desires rather than the use for the benefit of the members. Question 2 The principle of data protection act requires that the individual information being generated should be just and legitimate (Theda & Mary 2010). It is a legal requirement that such personal details should be obtained for a specific purpose only and not for any other reason whether legitimate or lawful. Susan violated this rule because she included private information regarding the relationship between Caroline and Tom (her former boy friend) and by adding that there relationship was not genuine, but a mere pretence just meant to hurt her. This information was not related to the reason for which the database of members was required. The regulations also require individual information regarding other people to be processed with their authority (Andrea & Deborah 2011). Th e information held by one person on behalf of others is not supposed to be used for any other purpose apart from the one it was meant for. In this case, Susan shared member’s personal details with Peter for commercial use and in fact she received compensation of ?1000. This was against members wishes since they were included in the deal. Therefore, members are entitled to compensation for the illegitimate use of personal details. Personal details should be kept safe where they cannot easily be accessed by unauthorized parties, spoilt, or replicated (Andrea & Deborah 2011). Susan violated this rule by carelessly sharing information with other people which eventually caused blockage of data maintained in the members’ website. She also misplaced the backup gadget which contained member’s details and probably the gadget was taken by other people. Those people who took that gadget probably went ahead and abused the information contained in it for their personal gains . This denied the group members the right to protection of their personal details which may result to abuse of their details. Question 3 In the case study, Peter replicated the data massively and sent numerous email messages to the clients. The members complained to Susan that

Contract Performance Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Contract Performance - Research Paper Example Two bids were received, one by the Alabama Laundry and Linen supply and the other by Tennessee Valley Laundry and dry cleaners; however, the Tennessee bid was cheaper. Alabama Laundry management filed a protest, which alleged that Tennessee Laundry was inexperienced, and therefore it should have been declared non-responsible. The law concerning performance contracts required that a bid be given to a responsible contractor; who should have achieved a satisfactory performance in his previous contracts. Alabama Laundry further alleged that Tennessee Laundry’s past performance was unsatisfactory; therefore, the contract should have been terminated. Thirdly, Tennessee Laundry was accused of violating the law by not inspecting the site of performance. Therefore, the protestor argued that the award granted to Tennessee should be granted to Alabama Laundry. However, these allegations were found baseless without evidence; Tennessee Laundry was therefore given a go ahead in their contra ct and the protest was dismissed, since Tennessee Laundry was found to be responsible. Regulatory provisions (FAR) pertaining to contract performance in general The federal acquisition regulation (FAR) provides the requirements pertaining to contract performance; bidders have the right to compete for the contract equally. This is referred to as sealed bidding acquisition, whereby, the lowest bidder and responsive bidder get the award. FAR law prohibits any restrictions that limit the number of bidders. Once the bids are read, those that do not meet the requirements are rejected; nevertheless, FAR requires the contractor to have sufficient resources to perform the contract. Secondly, the contractor must be capable of complying with the performance schedule. Thirdly, the company should have a history of satisfactory performance from its previous jobs. Business Ethics are also considered an important factor. Further, FAR requires the contractor to have quality and effective skills. The refore, if the bidder meets all the above requirements, he is at an advantage of receiving an award (Vacketta, 1999 Para 4). In addition, apart from sealed bidding, a contract may be awarded through negotiation, allowing flexibility to determining the winning bidder. Here, the contracting officer conducts negotiations with offerors, therefore evaluating the best bidder for the contract. This process ensures that the best is obtained from a pool of bidders. However, the law prohibits the contracting officer from conducting favors on some bidders. FAR 52.249-2 indicates that, termination for convenience permits the government to terminate a contract at any time, without a reason, but only when in the government’s best interest (Vacketta, 1999). In addition, FAR 15.304 (c) (3) (i) require the evaluation of past performance on the contractors, however, in the lowest price factor, evaluation of past performance is not necessary (Naval air welfare centre, 2009). The selection of a bidder may be beyond responsiveness and responsibility; nevertheless, price is a very important factor in choosing the right bidder. Cite and explain the regulatory provisions (FAR) that relate to the particular contract performance issue of the report you chose. The protest on bidder’s responsibility and contact performance involves an appeal by one contractor in protest of the selected bidder’s award. Vacketta (1999) explains that an appeal to the United States court by a contractor should

Stage 2 Of Updating Hometown Deli Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Stage 2 Of Updating Hometown Deli - Essay Example This paper will attempt to describe how the technology proposed in Stage 1 will be used throughout Hometown Deli to help improve the business into a viable restaurant and local hangout for many more years to come. In Stage 1, the author identified that Hometown Deli was in need of a major improvement since nothing about it has changed since the 1950s. A technological upgrade would allow the store to become more efficient by having information pertaining to customers, recipes, and business accounts stored on computers. It would also, allow the deli to introduce the use of technological services such as Wi-Fi for customers to use while hanging out at the deli. Lastly, it would mean that new ways of advertising would be available, such as using social networks like Facebook or even creating a Hometown Deli blog to gather feedback from its customer base on how the Deli can be improved. Hometown Deli would need to acquire restaurant style point of sale (pos) equipment to help facilitate t he speed and accuracy of improving the restaurant. This equipment would also allow us to keep up with an accurate database of customer information, menus, recipes, inventory, business accounting information, amongst other possible information that could be used. Also, the deli would need to acquire phone lines and an internet connection with a wireless router. The wireless router would serve as the hub for the new Wi-Fi service offered to those hanging out at the Deli. Most of the major components to help with the solution for the integration of the business coming into the 21st Century, technologically speaking, can be found on the web in various packages. The packages that seem to work best come from International Point of Sale.com. From this company you can purchase complete packages consisting of touchscreen monitors, cash drawers, keyboards, the Restaurant Pro Express software, a signature pad, and printers for the receipts among others.

Campaign Finance Reforms Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Campaign Finance Reforms - Essay Example The purpose of this Act was to make campaign finance transparent. This was followed by a prolonged period of silence and restraint in this area. In the year 2002, the need for introducing reforms in campaign finance surfaced again. This led to the coming into existence of Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (Nielsen 43). This Act assured that the private donors are not able to donate much money to the political parties and political contestants that are not legally regulated by the Federal Election Commission. This was indeed a big step towards reforming campaign finance. Still, there were some aspects of this reform that happened to be controversial in a legal context (Nielsen 43). This led to a Supreme Court ruling in the year 2010 in the famous Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission case, which declared this act to be unconstitutional (Nielsen 59). This Supreme Court verdict once again increased the role played by the corporate money in the American democracy. Thereby this ver dict has generated much public disapproval. This has indeed increased the need for more campaign finance reforms. It is a known fact that collecting campaign finance is a task that takes much time and attention of the Congress men. This diverts their attention from the real issues faced by the country. The politicians are greatly dependent on the private donors for campaign finance. Thereby, this increases the clout of the corporate and private donors in the American political system (Schier 41).

Selfie and Self-portrait Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Selfie and Self-portrait - Research Paper Example They can also fail to present the person facing down with no focus, which can distort the image. Self-portraits include reason and thought during the composition of the image or photo (McHugh n.p). It is significant to note that self- portrait is another way of looking at me and reflecting on my personal life while a selfie is not looking at me because in most cases people gaze empty. When a person takes a selfie, the eyes look bigger and shiny because of the closeness to the camera but self-portrait the artist produce every part of the image in accordance with the way it appears. While taking a selfie, the gestures imply that look at me I am taking a selfie or a photo of me or I am here. It tries to capture the attention of other people. On contrary, Self-portrait tries to reveal certain messages or information about the image. For instance, the artist draws the image with an intention to pass a message to the people (Jim 17). The common similarity between a selfie and a self-portrait is that people analyze and assess themselves. In addition, in selfie people retouch and change themselves or transform their images to represent the current emotional state while artists or painters do their self-portrait because there is no one around to practice human anatomy and once their work is complete, they do not have a chance to retouch and change it.  

The concept of hell makes no sense discuss Essay Example for Free

The concept of hell makes no sense discuss Essay Hell is said to be a wicked place of suffering and a place where unrighteous souls are punished. In the Christian Bible Hell is described as a place of fire and brimstone. As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The son of man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, (Matthew 13:40-42, quoting Jesus). This passage describes how evil people who act unmorally and sinful will be picked out and discarded into the fiery depths of Hell. Most modern Christians would see Hell as the eternal punishment for unrepentant sinners, as well as for the Devil and his demons. Fundamentalists believe that evil doers and non-religious people would go straight to Hell. Most modern Christians would believe that Hell is a spiritual notion of physical suffering or material fire. They believe many biblical images of Hell are non-literal and Hel is more a state of separation from God. Although not all Christians would agree with this modern view. Fundamentalists believe the Bible to speak the absolute truth and take the descriptions and images of Hell told in the Bible as the truth. Therefore they would believe all non God believers would go straight to Hell and anybody who isnt a believer would not be saved, as Jesus stated in Johns gospel, I am the way the truth and the life, no man cometh unto the father, but by me. (John 14:6). This would mean a relatively small number of the population are to be saved. Exclusivist Christians follow a similar view to fundamentalists although exclusivist Christians are much stricter in there views. They believe anyone who doesnt follow the Bible would be sent to Hell. Therefore everyone who isnt Christian and also some Christians who take the modern view of the Bible. This would mean an even smaller population would be saved. Various interpretations of the torments of Hell exist, ranging from fiery pits of wailing sinners to lonely isolation from Gods presence. In Islam Muslims believe in Jahannom (resembles the versions of Hell in Christianity). In there holy book the Quran there are descriptions of a fiery Hell, and in contrast a garden like paradise which resembles Heaven. Another religion which has a different view of Hell and Heaven in Hinduism. In Hinduism there are many contradictions as too whether Hell exists. This is because Hindu philosophy is concentrated on reincarnation, which is the disembodied soul casting out one body and taking on others. The process which decides the nature of this is karma and the deeds that are preformed in this life will influence the next incarnation. Therefore most Hindus believe in Hell being a metaphor for a conscience, although there are versions of Hinduism which do believe in the concept of Hell. They believe people who commit paap (sin) will go to Hell to go through a series of punishments are reborn according to their Karma. Richard Dawkins is a British ethologist, an evolutionary theorist, and an established writer. Dawkins is an Atheist and in his book the God delusion; he attacks religion and the existence of God. Dawkins concentrates on the teaching of Hell in two main religions Christianity and Islam in a television documentary the root of all evil, he likens the teaching of Hell as to child abuse as some churches such as the one he visited in America scared children into believing they would go to hell if they didnt believe in God and follow the bible word for word. He also interviewed an Islamic extremist who explained that the main aim of the terrorist attacks which take place were because young Muslims believe they will die a martyrs death and receive the ultimate prize after death which is to reach paradise and have all there desires and needs met as a reward. Richard Dawkins explains how he believes that this is indoctrination and dangerous for people to believe in. Karl Marx also had a similar view to that of Richard Dawkins. Marx suggested that religion and the idea of Hell was used as a kind of social control over the people to keep them in there place morally. John Hick is a contemporary British philosopher and theologian. Hick is a liberal Christian who is against the concept of Hell. He argues that the idea of Hell is something that Humanity could achieve on earth without the need for a reality in the next world. Hick believed that life is a journey towards death but the journey does not stop there but continues after death as does the divine purpose to make us more perfect. Another argument which is brought about is the conflicting ideas that you could be evil and religious all your life and on your death bed repent and get into heaven, which is unfair when there are non-religious people who live morally good lives and are told they wouldnt get to heaven because they werent religious. Immanuel Kant said there is no justice in this world. Kant said that people desire the Summum Bonum which is to achieve where virtue and happiness could coincide. Therefore God and the afterlife must exist to bring about the Summum Bonum and you need the existence of Hell to bring justice in the universe. In conclusion taking in all these accounts what you personally believe can be dependant on many factors such as, what your parents believed, your family background, where you live for example in Europe there is a higher proportion of Catholicism and Christianity than in the Middle East where Religion such as Islam are practiced. Therefore in answer to the question concepts of Hell make no sense, depending on your faith, the strength of that faith, the beliefs of people around you and where you live your opinions may vary on the idea of Hell.

Learning Notes Essay Example for Free

Learning Notes Essay |STAGE 1 | |CONTENT STANDARD: The learner understand the different types and forms of drama, the features ,elements and conventions which distinguish | |them from narratives thereby leading him/her to produced a reaction paper. | |PERFORMANCE STANDARD: The learner writes a meaningful reaction paper on a drama presentation. | |ESSENTIAL UNDERSTANDING: The learner exhibits understanding and appreciation of drama by making sense of and reacting to the different issues| |presented in it.. | |ESSENTIAL QUESTION: How does one show appreciation of Philippine Drama? | |Learners will know: | |Types of Drama | |Forms of drama | |Drama conventions | |Expressions showing agreement and disagreement | | | |Learners will be able to: | |Explain types of drama | |Distinguish various forms of drama. | |Apply various graphic organizers to illustrate key concepts in a drama. | |Perform an array of reading techniques to concretize and unlock drama concept. | |Respond in various ways to express understanding of drama. | |Relate how drama mirrors real life. | |Deduce authentic experiences that can be incorporated in a drama. | |Analyze descriptions, dialogs and actions to discover, articulate, and justify characters in a drama. | |Draw insights on main and sub issues presented in a drama. | | | |STAGE 2 | |Product Performance Task: A meaningful reaction paper on a drama presentation. | | | |Evidence at the level of understanding: The learners should be able to demonstrate understanding by covering the six (6) facets of | |understanding. | |Explanation-Explain how the playwright justifies the actions, feelings, and attitudes of the character. | |Describe characters, and situation to show how drama reflects culture. | | Interpretation- interpret the series of connected events in a drama plot. Using events line | |Application-Apply role playing strategies in delivering dialogs between the protagonist and antagonist in the play | |Perspective- Develop perspective by evaluating a drama presentation. | |Empathy-assume role in Critiquing a drama presentation. | |Self-knowledge- self-assess one’s strengths and weaknesses in presenting assessment of a drama presentation. | |Evidence at the level of performance: Performance assessment of an original extended dialog for drama presentation based on the following | |criteria: | |1. Focus/Theme | |2. Accuracy | |3. Language | |4. Unity | |5. Coherence | |6. Style | | | |STAGE 3 | |TEACHING LEARNING SEQUENCE | |A. EXPLORE- At this stage, the teacher should be able to do the following: | |Make the learners aware of the desired result that is, for him/her to demonstrate understanding of understanding of the different types and | |forms of Philippine drama as well as the features, elements, and conventions which distinguish them from narratives | |Introduce the Essential Question (EQ), â€Å"How does one show appreciation of Philippine drama? † with the learners. Make them answer the questions| |as exhaustively as possible and cue them into the big ideas by activating their prior knowledge or past experiences. | |Use non-formative assessment procedure to check/evaluate learners’ readiness and competence on the prerequisite skills to the tasks at hand. | |Inform the learners of how they will be assessed. Their major output after the lesson is a meaningful reaction paper on a drama presentation. | |Likewise explain the rubrics. | |Activities |Materials |Date |Remarks | |1. Life is a drama TG. P. 4 |Types of Drama listed on a manila |August 15,2011 | | | |paper. | | | |2. Illustrate it TG. P. 4 |1. Manila paper |August 16,2011 | | | |2. Pentel pen/ pencil | | | | |3. crayons | | | |Note: | |1. Pre-test is given to students. To test their prior knowledge. | |2. Ask the EQ-essential Question | |3. Clarify expectation | |4. Hook and engage interest. | |5. Give the essential understanding. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |STAGE 3 | |TEACHING LEARNING SEQUENCE | |B. FIRM UP- At this stage, the teacher should be able to do the following: | |Make the learners enhance their knowledge of the different types and forms of Philippine drama, as well as the features, elements and | |conventions which distinguishes them from narratives. | |Highlight the grammar item by providing sufficient examples of word/phrase showing agreement or disagreement. | |Provide the learners with activities that are motivating and challenging | |Maximize learners’ participation in various tasks from controlled practice to free association phase of learning | |Provide feedback to check for understanding. | |Activities |Materials |Date |Remarks | |1. Which one are you TG. P. 6 |1. A copy of the words â€Å"JOLOGs and | | | | |â€Å"CONOS† | | | |2. A day for a play TG. P6 | | | | |- Read and write words in the play |2. A photocopy of the Drama- â€Å"Call | | | |that shows AGREEMENT and |Me Flory† by Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero | | | |DISAGREEMENT. | | | | |3. Lexicon TG. P6 | | | | |- Write the meaning of the phrases. |3. Manila Paper with the Phrases | | | | |taken from the play. | | | |4. Simple Recall TG. P7 | | | | |- Comprehension Questions |4. Manila paper with the | | | | |comprehension questions. | | | |5. Agree or Disagree TG. P9 | | | | |- Expressing agreement and |5. Manila Paper with two column A | | | |Disagreement |and B Agreement and Disagreement. | | | | | | | | |6. In my opinion TG. P10. |6. Various topics written on a | | | |- Choose one topic then write an |Manila paper. | | | |opinion paragraph stressing their | | | | |greatest argument for agreeing or | | | | |disagreeing. | | | | | | | | | |Note: Discuss and explain | | | | |expressions on agreement and |Outline of the topic | | | |disagreement. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |STAGE 3 | |TEACHING LEARNING SEQUENCE | |C. DEEPEN- At this stage, the teacher should be able to do the following: | |Provide learners with thought – provoking questions that will make them reflect, revisit, rethink, and revise earlier assumptions about the | |types and forms of Philippine drama, the features, elements, and conventions that distinguish them from narrative. | |Enable learners to apply the grammar items learned by giving them activities within the confines of higher order thinking skills. | |Address the learners’ uniqueness, their strengths and weaknesses by providing them with differentiated instruction as needed. | |Provide them with meaningful and challenging activities that will reinforce what they have learned. | |Engage them in meaningful self-evaluation. | |Give feedback. | |Activities |Materials |Date |Remarks | |1. Curtailed Freedom TG. P. 11 | 1. Topic on specific reality or | | | |- Have them agree or disagree†¦ |game show. | | | | | | | | |2. Mock Election TG. P11 | | | | |-Write and express their ideas | | | | | |2. â€Å"Written issue on a manila | | | | |paper- â€Å"Are you in favor of using | | | |3. Drama Inventory TG. P12 |the Filipino language during | | | |- Complete the table after |English time? † | | | |watching/listening to various drama| | | | |media. |3. Written CHART on a manila paper | | | | |as guide to the activity. | | | |4. Airing Feedback TG. P12. | | | | |- Role play any situation | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |4. Rubrics | | | |Notes: | | | |1. Discuss the Elements of Drama | |2. types of drama | |3. drama conventions | | | | | | | | | | | |D. TRANSFER- At this stage, the teacher should be able to do the following: | |Have the learners make independent application of the various processes (drama review, play reaction paper production, critiquing an original | |extended drama script, ect) they have learned. | |Make them do independent performance or project using varied and complex assessment procedure. | |Harness the learners’ growing proficiency by letting them establish the interface among the activities they have performed. | |Have them see the connections between tasks and the world. | | | |Activities |Materials |Date |Remarks | |1. Drama Review TG. P13 | 1.evaluation Chart | | | |- Complete the evaluation chart | | | | |after watching a scene in a drama | | | | |or play. | | | | | | | | | |2. DRP (Drama Reaction Paper) TG. | | | | |P13 | | | | |- evaluate the strength and |2. List of criteria written on a | | | |weaknesses of a play or drama. |manila paper | | | | | | | | | | | | | |References: | | | | |Laarni- A Dream by Loreto | | | | |Paras-Sulit | | | | | | | | | |Call Me Flory, by Wilfrido Ma. | | | | |Guerrero | | | | |The World is an Apple | | | | | | | | | | |Prepared by | | | |FERDINAND A. SANGAO | |Subject Teacher Noted: | |NORA D. DALAPNAS | |Head Teacher In Charge | | | | | | |

Problems Facing Bmw Company Marketing Essay

Problems Facing Bmw Company Marketing Essay Globalization diversifies markets for vehicle manufactures where regions like Japan, North America and Western Europe are established big manufactures with over 18 vehicle manufactures across the board. This accounts for almost 90 percent of vehicle produced thus a scramble for available markets, attention now turns to upcoming economies like Russia, Latin America and Eastern Europe, Governments in developing economies aware of the value of their prospective growth auction off their market share to the highest bidders, like BMW, this investors hoping to increase manufacturing capacities so as to build their intended market bid away their economic returns and in so doing multiply the overcapacity problem on a large scale (Griffin Pustay 2009). Risks involved in venturing into new markets weigh in and most companies aware of the consequences of losing a market place bid, this either plays out in the company over bidding or throwing in the towel and losing the market.   Differentiation Successful ECO-Specialties must emphasize their differentiation. Differentiation means that the marketing mix is distinct from and better than what is available from the competitor; product differentiation is the core to a healthy market share. An abundance of option for the vehicle buyers exists with vehicle models with almost similar functional characteristics, BMW is now forced to manufacture unique products for a particular region at a point in time, and this is to cope with tastes and fickle needs of consumers. This differentiation wanes on their budget heavily since financial consequences of missing a market are disastrous (Prahalad Hamel 1990). Innovation Commitment to innovation and product variety has brought on the greatest challenge in the companies history, the intricacy and complexity of the functions offered in BMWs premium luxurious cars has burgeoned making manufacturing costs increase. Product development is the most financially taxing for BMW, the cost of developing a new models and model parts is enormous, time consuming and carries major risks. where the ford and general motors GM experience of 1970s and 1980s implies that commonization among manufactures leads to consumer backlash and confusion, BMW is now faced with expensive process of innovating prototypes and going through rigorous expensive and risk prone testing phases (Hollensen 2007). Competition Competition from other vehicle manufacturers dictate company strategies, with 69% of the market controlled by six companies its more difficult for a manufacturer to maintain his buyers without raids from rivals, this has the most direct effect on prices. Slow growth in automobile industry intensifies competition and has affected the BMW strategy leading to the BMW brand acquiring the merger partners (Tata Motors Inc. 2009). Substitute Products Substitute products threat on the auto market relates to products, materials or resources that may cause the demand for a product to shift. BMW targets premium buyers with whom quality matters, however other manufactures targeting this premium car market like, Mercedes, Audi, and the Porsche consequently become a close substitute to BMW. Global Warming With Global Warming a great concern in the modern world, environmental activists, non governmental organizations and governments are pushing for manufacturing companies to go green, BMW The carmaker, whose stable includes its core BMW brand along with the compact Mini and the super luxury Rolls-Royce, which hopes to deliver over 1.8 million vehicles a year by 2012 is faced with stricter regulation to conform, the company warned it is also likely to be confronted in the future by stricter emission standards in many countries. This implies further costs in innovation of more environmentally friendly engines, fuels and investment into alternative sources of energy to drive their cars. Proposed Solutions On globalization BMW can solve this over taxing problem through carefully calculated mergers and acquisitions, this allow the company to gain market share and penetration as well as access to already existing technology, local professionals and local brands. Furthermore, reviewing policies to improve the ratio of profitable to unprofitable customers which tends to run 20:80. Developing a global view of the brand and the buyers portfolio will reveal uncharted regions for expansion. And the use of existing plants in suitable locations to manufacture or assemble vehicles maintaining the quality of the BMW brand will greatly cut operational start up costs. Differentiation BMW has adopted advanced technology used to increase engineering and the quality of the models which are the route to competitive advantage. Mainly the major areas of differentiation are in alternative energies and security features, ensuring the brand maintains uniqueness, the BMWs 2002 (sports sedans) ensured differentiation was achieved, BMW use of advanced electronics make their cars luxurious as well as sporty to drive Innovation and product variety The use of technologically announced Intel Xeon processor 5500 series helps BMW Group to balance hardware, energy and application licensing costs, while also increasing its performance. This allows for new applications to be run, prototypes can be virtually created and tested virtually, Dr. Burkhard Goeschel, member of BMW board explains key areas of innovation incorporated in product development, this key areas include, Connected Drive which allows for an innovative and comprehensive concept networking the car, the driver, and the surrounding world, by-wire technology and iDrive control, all these concepts are available in the new BMW 7 series. Competition BMW has introduced new models, the x5, x3 and z4 with advanced electronics to make them sporty as well as luxurious, BMW has also acquired the Mini Cooper and Rolls Royce car manufacturers and the new models have boosted their competitive edge. Substitute products BMW prioritizes quality and product differentiation such that for its targeted premium market the BMW standards remain top and the car is still prestigious. Environmental challenges To combat this BMW along with other motor companies have tried to use some of the emerging technologies to make money, lower costs and ultimately help in reducing pollution. Toyota, Ford and BMW have incorporated this mentality in manufacturing of three lines of their cars, the new BMW 7series and the greatly awaited z4 are all projected to embrace these environmental friendly features, in future innovation of electric cars and alternative fuel sources are being considered. Major Strategic Alternatives BMW has established a basic supply chain in order to improve its load planning, this aids in determining its allocation strategies to cope with globalization; this supply chain ensures putting up of new manufacturing plants in suitable foreign countries and dedicated assembly lines for every product with few variants and thus increases productivity and reduces costs. With the market full of options for the buyer, the chain allows BMW to establish its brand in emerging anomies before competitors bid for market shares. Mergers and acquisitions of key brands of premium brands of cars have further solidified BMW market dominance. Beginning with the BMW Rover merger, the company has newly acquired MINI, and Rolls Royce cars. Its products cover the full range of size classes and car types but consist exclusively of premium-class cars, this allows the company to venture into new markets use the facilities used by former brands to re model new cars thus reducing operational costs while fostering growth. Unlike former mergers like the vole-Renault deal of the early 1990s which collapsed because the company cultures were incompatible, BMW integration with their new acquisitions have proved profitable, most vehicle manufactures have resulted to creating entirely new vehicle segments, and BMW hit home run with its 2002 sports sedan which generated returns to its innovator by fending its differentiated position, the company has designed and always built cars with exponentially greater responsiveness to a dri vers actions, this has been greatly attributed to the companies product differentiation policies (Teece et al 1996). The BMW engine roaring sound is music to the ears of sports and performance car lovers, outside the box thinking like the BMW sedans and convertibles give BMW a competitive advantage over other manufacturers. New and advanced technology like greatly improved safety features, advanced control features have led to market dominance. BMW cars typically have product life cycle of seven years. and according to Jim McDowell, vice president of marketing at BMW If a product is declining, we would prefer to withdraw it from the market, as opposed to having a strategy for dealing with the declining product this awareness ensures that BMW ventures are only profitable ones, the rover case shows how failing mergers operate and instead of working on it BMW sold it to UK venture capital firm Alchemy Partners (Siciliano Zuvich 2006). To foster growth BMW instead acquired profitable mergers like with luxury cars rolls Royce. This ensures the company always remains relevant to the market and trendy to its buyers With advancing technology and introduction of fiber optic cables in developing economies, the world has become a global village where car enthusiast can order in their premium BMW cars online, check features and ask questions on performance, : BMW Car maker uses web mostly to drive its brand, taking the phrase beyond the banner seriously, online adds like the Marketing Channels Internet 46860 banners, appear on equal rotating basis with each search result, with BMW targeting 26.5% the percentage of viewers between age group (25-34) , this along with E-mail Marketing, Brochure test-drive Registration for Mail alert message, and e-catalogue, enable more availability of information anywhere to prospective buyers, BMW has launched an email marketing campaign for the release of the long awaited Sporty new Z4 Convertible, Z4 BMW (Key General Motors Financial 2007). This guarantees availability to buyers who dont have to attend gallery shows at the dealership. BMW has established Numerous Overseas Subsidiaries in countries like, south Africa, India, china Canada and Egypt, where BMW vehicles are assembled, 2003 saw the signing of a deal the production of sedans in China, this subsidiary firms are well equipped to build cars for export to specific markets like, the south Africa plant builds left hand drives for the Taiwan market, and also right hand drives for sub Saharan Africa, Malaysia and Singapore. This shows a great understanding of the market and understanding of the buyer needs in different regions, Predictions If put in place supply chains will enable the company to greatly take advantage of existing infrastructure in different regions, this will allow for strategic allocation of plants in areas where the BMW brand will not be compromised, this areas will preferably have skilled professional workers, laid out infrastructure which the company will exploit. This aids in reduction of start up costs in new markets. Integration with already existing local brands allow for easy market penetration (Franey 2008). E-commerce is a must have for companies in the modern world and will increased emphasis on e marketing, BMW stands to break into markets far and wide, most upcoming economies have low income citizens without many premium luxurious cars available, the internet brings the BMW experience closer to them, thus when the market is established the concept of luxury cars wont be so alien, this allows for easier market penetration and preparation of a ready market (Juslin Hansen 2003). Product differentiation among premium car market is a key to successes, with the targeted buyer giving more emphasis to quality and uniqueness and elegance as opposed to pricing, BMW seeks to offer intricate designs and features to these new models allowing for elegance that buyers crave. In reaction to the differentiation major competitors like Volkswagen, Porsche, Mercedes, have released new models like the jeep Cherokee luxurious SUV, and the mustang pony cars so as to try and keep up. Establishing of overseas subsidiary in developing markets in the Latin America, and parts of eastern Europe, and Africa BMW will be able to put up assembly plants closer to the buyer, sales are predicted to sore with introduction of this new markets, the subsidiary firm are able to carry out research in respective Regions and integrate the outcome in their strategic plans to give the buyers exactly what they desire, this bolsters sales, Strategy outcome Prediction When implementing E- Marketing as a basis for extending growth and penetration to market regions, various risks are involved especially when the internet is being used to launch details of new vehicle series being manufactured, BMW had a case in 2004 when there were cases of website incursions, theft of vehicles and a constant threat of arson even in its UK head offices in Bracknel (Hambrick Fredrickson 2001). In addressing all these, the company specified a self-sufficient security solution that was cost effective and that required minimal human supervision and intervention. Reliance securities implemented a state of the art security solution including CCTV surveillance with intelligent detector activation, to avoid future incursions. Mergers and acquisitions are effective in breaking into new markets through acquiring and integrating an already existing brands, great risks are involved in such takeovers, having seen the BMW-Rover merger record massive losses, in light of this failure BMW has learnt to plan its mergers with companies whose cultures are compatible, this has seen successful mergers with luxurious car manufactures rolls Royce and the mini (Pearce Robinson 2009). Production of entirely new brands is the most expensive aspect of car manufacturing with average of 2 models released in a decade, across the wide range of car manufactures, though this allows for product differentiation and preferences to the buyer, great risks are involved, since the sports sedan in 2002, only the 2seater roadster and coupe have been sold since 2002 (Marshall Stuart 2008). The company has however heavily invested in technology when intricate applications are put in place to virtually make desired prototypes, and virtually test the models this greatly reduces costs of manufacturing a car and having it fail.   Many countries have enacted stricter environmental restrictions on pollution and emissions, BMW, has greatly put in place measures to manufacture more fuel efficient cars, this comes with elevated costs and consequently the cost is projected down to the buyers, more fuel efficient engines are expensive, electric cars which are regarded as the future are even more costly even to premium market target manufacturers, The 2011 BMW Active Hybrid 7 and the vision Efficient Dynamic Concept car which was unveiled during the September 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show are projected to offer fuel economy of 62.6 mpg. BMW also has a recycling policy where they use the shredded parts of the cars in their yard, this reduces pollution, and the foundation for the environmental friendly recycling of vehicles is laid during the production of each vehicle (Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft 2008).    Supply chains overall levels of integration ensuring a reduction to fixed costs of assets and labor, they also serve to reduce the number competitors supplying into the same market, for instance India is a viable market but has competitors such as, Audi, Daimler Chrysler, Tata, Mahindra an Hyundai looking to invest in that market by putting up assembly units, the supply will ensure such a flooded market is avoided or a more appropriate means of entry is effected (Thompson Strickland 1996). Globalization leads to governments of up coming economies take advantage of their growth potential and thus bid off their markets to the highest bidders amongst the major vehicle manufactures. But there is growing unwillingness within the supply community to invest in plants that might not reach potential in over a decade, this leads to investors pulling out instead of bidding away, this markets form good grounds for take over and acquisitions of already in place plants (Kiley 2004).

Essay on Satire - Voltaires Candide as a Satirical Peice :: Candide essays

Voltaire's Candide as a Satirical Peice The novel Candide by Voltaire is a great peice of satire that makes fun of the way people in medievil times thought. The book is about a man, Candide, and his misfortunes. Throughout the book Candide has countless things go wrong in order to show that this is not "the best of all possible worlds" Voltaire is trying to make a point through the exaggeration of the inhumanities of man in a humorous way. The story begins in a castle in Westphalia. Candide is convinced by Cunegonde to take a lesson in "experimental physics". The two are caught and Candide is kicked out of the castle. While Candide is suffering from hunger and cold he is met by two men who trick him into service in the Bulgarian army. Candide has a terrible time in the army, he tries to escape, and he is punished severely. During the confusion of war Candide manages to escape. Time passes and Candide meets some other interesting individuals and has one bad experience after the next. One day Candide meets a woman who takes care of him and this is none other than Cunegonde. They amuse each other with stories of misfortune and travel around the world. At every place Candide goes something unthinkable seems to happen to him. Candide meets several people along the way who all have their own interesting story of misfortune and the inhumanities of mankind. Candide ends up on a small farm, married to Cunegonde and living with two philosophers. He argues with others at the end of the book if this really is the best of all possible worlds and they conclude the we must "work without reason" and "must cultivate our garden". In this novel Voltaire is extremely influenced by his frame of reference and mindset. He finds room to include almost all of his political views. He takes Candide on a journey through all of the wrongs he beleives in the world in order to prove that it was not the best of all possible worlds. He shows us the inhumanities of man through war and social interaction. He basically paints an exaggerated picture of the wrongs of medievil people.

The Adult Spinal Column :: Biology, Tissues

Abstract—Understanding the relationship between repetitive lifting and the breakdown of disc tissue over several years of exposure is difï ¬ cult to study in vivo and in vitro. The aim of this investigation was to develop an asymmetric Porovisco elastic ï ¬ nite element model of a lumbar motion segment that reï ¬â€šects the biological properties and behaviors of in vivo disc Finite element predictions were compared to in vivo measurements published by Tyrrell et al. (1985) of percent change in total stature for two loading protocols, short-term creep loading and standing recovery and short-term cyclic loading with standing recovery. Future models will treat the tissues as poor-assume elastic and 3D in order to be more accurate and the relationship between repetitive lifting and disc degeneration T I. INTRODUCTION he adult spinal column is made up of 26 bones, called vertebrae: 7 cervical in the neck, 12 thoracic in the rib area, 5 lumbar in the lower back, a sacrum and a coccyx. Located between adjacent vertebrae are intervertebral discs. The human intervertebral disc acts as the body’s shock absorber to properly diffuse the stresses that the spine encounters. It is made up of the inner, gel-like nucleus pulposus and the outer annulus fibrosus. Fluid flows through the disc in a diurnal cycle At the beginning of each day, the disc is fully hydrated, but as the day progresses, fluid is forced to flow out of the disc; this flow helps to carry nutrients into and waste out of the disc [1]. The exploration of biomechanical properties of living tissues is fundamental to the analysis of structural behaviour of the musculoskeletal system. It is known that mechanical properties of living tissues are time dependent. Creep, relaxation, constant strain rate loading, and cyclic loading represent the various physiological loading conditions that the human body confronts. For example, higher strain rates of loading can be used for simulating vehicular accidents or trauma, medium strain rates of loading for daily activity, creep for the prolonged static posture, and cyclic loading for work in vibrating environments, i.

The Scaffold Scenes in Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter Essay -- Scarlet

â€Å"Hester Prynne passed through this portion of her ordeal, and came to a sort of scaffold (51),† Hawthorne tells in the opening seen of the novel, The Scarlet Letter. The scaffold is a place for punishment. â€Å"This scaffold constituted a portion of a penal machine, which now, for two or three generations past, has been merely historical and traditionary among us, but was held, in the old time, to be as effectual an agent in the promotion of good citizenship, as ever was the guillotine,† Hawthorne states in explaining the scaffolds use. The scaffold had wooden steps leading on to it. The steps of the scaffold became the walk of death for many people before they were beheaded. A balcony or open gallery stood over the platform and was attached to the meetinghouse. During Hester’s punishment, the ministers and Governor sat in the gallery in order to question her. The scaffold was located at the â€Å"western extremity† of the market place, near the chur ch. The scaffold was a raised platform made of wood and iron. Men and women who sinned would be forced on the scaffold, either for beheading or, in Hester’s case, extreme embarrassment. The scaffold appears in the book three times, during three major scenes. The scenes are placed equally apart in the book, one at the beginning, in the middle and in the final scene at the end. The first scaffold scene encompasses Hester’s punishment and open confession. While the third scaffold scene includes Dimmesdale's confession. In the second or middle scaffold scene, both Hester and Dimmesdale are on the scaffold in the middle of the night. The scaffold is introduced in the novel for its literal uses, but the scaffold comes to symbolize and embody many other meanings. The scaffold is a symbol of the... ... for his sin. Both in the novel and in everyday use, the scaffold has a certain connotation to it. For instance, a person told that they were going to be scaffolded would most likely be fearful. However, as used scaffolding could simply mean that they were going to be propped up. Likewise, in The Scarlet Letter all Puritans fear chastisement on the scaffold.   In the novel, the scaffold is never used for public speaking or a theatrical performance, but only for the confession of sin. Most Puritans did not realize that the scaffold could have many positive uses. Likewise, to be scaffolded, by definition, is just as likely to be a good action as a bad one. Unfortunately, most historical documentation about the scaffold relates to of executions and punishments. Thus, the word scaffold can do many beneficial things for mankind, yet carries a very negative aura.

Job Analysis Methods

HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ASSIGNMENT 1 DETAILS OF METHODS OF GETTING INFORMATION FOR JOB ANALYSIS Job analysis may be defined as a methodical process of collecting information on the functionally relevant aspects of a job. It involves job description (determining the duties and skill requirements of a job) and job specification (determining the kind of person who should be hired for the job). The methods of Job Analysis are as follows: 1. INTERVIEW METHOD This tool is considered to be very useful to the analysis of jobs.It is a method to collect a variety of information from an incumbent and supervisors by asking them (individually or as a group) to describe the tasks and duties performed. The benefits are that it allows the incumbent to describe tasks and duties that are not observable. However, they may exaggerate or omit tasks and duties. Three types of  interviews  are used to collect  job analysis  data: *  Individual  interviews  with each  employee. * Group   interviews  with groups of employees having the same job, and *  Interview  supervisor who are knowledgeable about the job  being analyzed.Interviews consist of structured Interviews and unstructured interviews. 2. QUESTIONNAIRE METHODS There are many techniques, one of them which is: 3. POSITION ANALYSIS QUESTIONNAIRE (PAQ MODEL) This model developed by McCormick, Jeanerette, and Mecham (1972) is a structured instrument of job analysis to measure job characteristics and then associate them with human characteristics. It consists of 195 job elements that describe generic human behaviors during work activities. It includes: 1. Information input (where and how the worker gets information), 2.Mental processes (reasoning and other processes that workers use), 3. Work output (physical activities and tools used on the job), 4. Relationships with other persons, and 5. Job context (the physical and social contexts of work). Over the years it has been observed that there exists a wea lth of research on the PAQ since it has yielded reasonably good reliability estimates and has been linked to several assessment tools. 4. OBSERVATION In this method incumbents are observed performing their jobs which enables the trained job analyst to obtain first-hand knowledge and information about the job being analyzed.This method is suited for jobs in which the work behaviors are 1) observable or 2) job tasks are short in duration or 3) jobs in which the job analyst can learn information about the job through observation. With observation, the trained job analyst can obtain first-hand knowledge and information about the job being analyzed. It allows the job analyst to see the work environment, tools and equipment used, interrelationships with other workers, and complexity of the job. 5.CRITICAL INCIDENT TECHNIQUE (CIT model) This method applied to discover behaviors towards working which can help classify performance into a good and bad level. These  observations  are used to solve practical problems and develop psychological principles. The main purposes are building  job descriptions, job specification and job standards, creating a list of good and bad behaviors which can then be used for  performance appraisal and testing the effectiveness of  the job  description and job specification. . WORK SAMPLING This method is a  measurement technique  for  the  quantitative  analysis of  non-repetitive  or  irregularly occurring activity. Work sampling operates by an observer taking a series of random observations on a particular thing of interest (machine, operating room, dock etc. ) to observe its state (working, idle, sleeping etc. ). When enough samples are taken, an analysis of the observations yields a statistically valid indication of the states for  each thing analyzed.It is relatively inexpensive to use and extremely helpful in providing a deeper understanding of all types of operations. 7. REPERTORY GRID The  repertory grid technique is a method for eliciting personal constructs, i. e. what people think about a given topic. It is based on George Kelly's  Personal Construct Theory. It is called a ‘grid' because one way of doing it is to use a matrix with the people along one side and the similarity and contrast poles along another side. The method is as follows: Identify a range of 10-20 people who do the job (these are called  elements). * Select three at random. * Select two that seem more similar in some way. * Identify what it is about them that is similar (this is the  similarity pole). * Identify what is different about the other person (this is the  contrast pole). * Repeat this until you have about 20 contrasts. * Thin this down to about 10 by combining similar contrasts. The remaining contrasts should give a good idea of the factors that make up the job.

Twenty four hour truce

As women, we all dream of a life where we finally feel free and safe. Just the mere thought of being able to walk down the street alone at 1 1 PM without worrying that someone might take advantage of you Is beyond exhilarating, feeling safe In our own homes, safe In our relationships, safe amongst the figures who were deemed to be protectors but have proved time and time again to be the mall source of our pain. Andrea Drinks calls upon a truce, â€Å"†¦ A Twenty-Four-Hour Truce During Which There Is No Rape†.Henceforth this essay will critically analyses Drinks plea, not only ringing forth an end to rape and the rise of men in against this patriarchal war but to bring an upturn in gender equity and the evaluation of restorative and punitive justice. First and foremost we need to define what gender equality is. Gender equality can be regarded as the measurable equal representation of women and men. Gender equality does not Infer that women and men are the same; amongst oth er reasons we are not the same and we will never be the same mainly because of our biological stand points.But gender equality does Imply that both men and women ought to eve equal value and should be accorded equal treatment; not only In the workplace but In the societal view as a whole. In Drinks speech, she proves that patriarchy Is a framework that is socially embedded in the eve stands of the clothes that we wear. Even to those who proclaim that they do not support such backward yet very present views of patriarchy, their silence, their standing in the shadows doing and saying nothing is a clear indication of their support.As it verifies that he who is most violent stands in the place of being the alpha male. Men such as Joseph Kong or militant ropes such as the Book Harem, Doll Hitler, Fillmore Slim.. And so forth; have made their marks in the sand of time for the oppression of women . All opposed by the female masses yet the males, those who are supposedly on the same superio r ranking, have remained on the side-lines of this In Just war against women abuse In all angles. L would Like to scream; and In that screams I would have the raped and the sobs of the battered; and even worse, In the centre of that scream I would have the deafening sound of women's silence, that silence into which we are born because e are women and in which most of us die† – Andrea Drinks I believe that we have reached a point in time where this on going struggle against male dominance should not be necessarily headed by females only.We live in this world where when it is deemed necessary in the public eye men and women are equal, we have seen and embraced the leadership skills of women, the inventors and of those have proved to be twice as strong in combat. It Is time that men pulled out their placards from their cupboards and voiced out their feelings of rebellion against patriarchy and put their foot forward towards gender equality. Ender equality or gender equity does not Ill In the hands of men. As It Is with any battle that Is being fought the greatest victory comes from the mind of the oppressed.Realigns that they themselves are indeed worth the fight and that they are not and should not be educate other women. This is possible through education because, yes, even in this day and age most women especially of those coming up from townships and surrounding violent areas still believe that if a man hits you; leaves you with bruises, if a man puts you down emotionally and if a man forces himself on you especially if o are in a relationship. This is seen as a proud declaration to the public of his love towards you. As we know first and foremost change comes from within.So before we can expect anyone on the outside to protect women and to speak on behalf of women the oppressed minds of those whose lives have revolved around playing victim need to be able to stand up for what is that they believe in; which should be gender equality â€Å"A gun in every holster, a pregnant woman in every home will make America a man again† -Ronald Reagan One needs to define and fully understand what it really means to be a man. In this case we see that being a man takes on the form of being superior and being in control.On the perspective of gender equity gender based violence is not the only form of oppression. Abuse comes in many forms and sizes. Gender violence includes rape, sexual assault; relationship violence in heterosexual and same sex relationships, sexual harassment, stalking, prostitution and sex trafficking. The term â€Å"gender violence† reflects the idea that violence often serves to maintain structural gender inequalities, and includes all types of violence against women, children, adolescents, gay and transgender people.This type of violence in some way influences or is influenced by gender relations. To sufficiently address this violence, we have to address cultural issues that encourage violence as part of masculinity. The workplace is also one of the places where great oppression against women occur. In the workplace women are often obliged to perform favors whether it be sexually they or other; they are subsequently expected to earn lower salaries than their male counterparts even if though they might do the same amount of work if not more.People often misinterpret the teaching of religion to fit their own demented fetishes in relation to male dominance. Where one religious book would teach the readings of the submissiveness of women and how respect is a two way streak; another would look at that teaching as a means where women are to be treated as puppets and they are the puppeteers in that they control every movement. Society also places a huge role on how women are supposed to think, look, eat, enhance, wear and behave. There has been a great shift in the way that women dress in the asses as apposed to now.It is onlooker about looking reprehensible and elegant and well put togeth er at all times. It is indeed about how much skin you can show, it is about sex appeal. Now this sex appeal is not directly directed to other women it is in actual fact directed at men, as they are seen as having the most purchasing power in all angles. The common phrase sex sells is true, but at what cost? It is at the cost of thousands of women pioneering to walk around half naked to be recognized by men; it is at the heart of a multimillion dollar food chain (Hooters) .Women may not monumentally realism this pressure to constantly look good, not necessarily for ourselves but for the pleasure of males. This is a form of oppression because it means that as women we are unconsciously forced to sell ourselves for the benefit of those who will view women as nothing more than Just visual pleasures. The current resolutions is given to individuals that do not have an interest in the matter, which ultimately prevents the individuals involved from determining their own form of justice. Add itionally, obedience to this system is enforced under duress.Rather than sing force to achieve compliance, the anarchist approach to resolving conflict is voluntary, and believes Justice can only be determined by the involved parties through dialogue. This means, rather than sending offenders to Jail, they confront the people that have been harmed by their actions, and take responsibility for rectifying the situation and by helping them recognizes their mistake. But how does one find comfort in rehabilitating a fully grown man who rapes a child? How does one rectify years and years of broken bones, black eyes and blank outs when the fear of being rut again is deeply rooted in the women's soul.Whereas, punitive Justice works on the basis that it is indeed an eye for an eye. It believes in punishment an in a sense, revenge; but could also have detrimental outcomes as the root of the problem was not resolved and because of this the perpetrator can do it again. Not much punishment can b e done because of the human right laws that are in place to protect everyone equally It is like a child that is being punished for something that he or she does not understand, the chances of that child doing it again are very high cause they could not see where they went wrong.There is no sure fire way of preventing perpetrators from acting again. We do not know if restorative Justice or punitive is the way forward as we are all different some people have higher moral values than others and some Just don't have them. Period. In closing Drinks claims do have merit in South Africa as our rape and women abuse ratings sky rocket by the minute. Is it possible, yes, purely because anything is possible. But not in the near future, equality is system that will take a lot of time to adjust too. This not only applies to men but to women as well.

Between Harrison Bergeron and a&P

Tim Kenda English 102 Short Story Essay 2/28/10 Heroism Through Choice When people think of heroes, they often think of muscle bound men in spandex with unrealistic powers of flight, strength, or x-ray vision. But in real life, heroes are often determined based on the smallest of situations and their outcomes. In both of the stories I have chosen (A&P and Harrison Bergeron), the main characters are classified as heroes because of their willingness to defy the authoritive forces around them, whether it be the store manager Lengel in A&P or the Handicapper General in Harrison Bergeron, as well as their willingness to strike out on their own instead of adhering to social norms. In Harrison Bergeron, the main character Harrison stands up to a society that attempts to dull his individual qualities by ripping off his physical handicaps and temporarily liberating all of the oppressed people watching the television for a moment. In A&P, the main character stands up to his dreary, Sunday school teaching boss when he feels as though his boss has embarrassed three female customers in a grocery store. Both Harrison and the cashier pay the price for their defiance (Harrison gets killed and the cashier loses his job), and it is because of the character’s selflessness that the actions appear heroic. Both characters fit the definition of a hero, the cashier for his willingness to lose his job over what he deems an inappropriate action by his manager, and Harrison for ripping off (literally) the shackles that his society has placed on him in a fight to show his individualism. The fact that they performed these actions with no thought towards their own outcome helps outline their true heroic qualities. In the story A&P, the cashier exhibits a heroic quality when he quits his job due to a perceived insult made by his manager to three young ladies. While it first appears to be a dangerous and rash decision (quitting your job over an apparent slight made by your manager to a girl you do not know), the underlying factors actually make this a very heroic choice. When the cashier quits the A&P, he is not quitting as a direct result of that one insult but rather he is quitting because he does not want to work in what he views as a strict and religious workplace. After he quits, he looks back and sees â€Å"Lengel in [his] place in the slot, checking the sheep through. † and then goes on to describe Lengel by saying â€Å"His face was dark gray and his back stiff, as if he’d just had an injection of iron. †(Updike 529). When he sees Lengel in this state, he realizes that moments before that had been him. At the end of the story, the cashier becomes a symbol of the thoughts of many young people during the late fifties and early sixties. He does not want to work in the same dreary place for his whole life. He does not want to be just like his parents and Lengel. And despite that fact that he knows it will be hard, he makes the decision to strike out on his own, and consequently to fight back against what he views as a dreary and depressing reality. That is a hard decision to make, and a heroic one as well. As a result of his actions, the cashier in A&P not only commits a heroic gesture, he also becomes a symbol of the change that was taking place in the late fifties and early sixties. Many young people at that point in time were breaking away from what their parents were doing and were bravely striking off onto their own paths, just like the hero in our story. The overall theme of the story mirrors the same path, showing the drear and the tension and the uncertainty that crept into the American conscious following the start of the cold war and the adolescent urge to do something better than what ones parents did. The cashier represents many of America’s younger generation in that aspect. In the story Harrison Bergeron, the main character is a â€Å"genius and an athlete† and is sent to jail for â€Å"suspicion of plotting to overthrow the government. †(Vonnegut 536). He then breaks out of jail and declares on national television that he is the emperor. Now in our society, these actions would be considered those of a madman or a lunatic. But in his society, Harrison’s actions are very heroic. When Harrison rips off his handicaps and declares to the world he is emperor, he represents the idea that individualism and competition are superior to similarity and monotony. His actions also represent the destruction of the limitations that society has attempted to place on him just because he was different. Also, the fact that he did this and was then killed makes it even more heroic. This shows us that Harrison’s real intent was not to simply take over the world, but rather his intent was to show everyone that they could be different and they could fight the limitations imposed on them. The theme of this story is one of oppression and normalcy, and idea that Harrison attempts to destroy. Harrison becomes a symbol of freedom and liberation, showing us as readers that it is possible to break free of social normalcy despite the possibly grave consequences. In both Harrison Bergeron and A&P the main characters in the story are considered heroic for their willingness to stand up against authority and their ability to commit what they perceive as â€Å"good† actions regardless of the consequences they face. In both stories society is a dull, oppressive place, and the characters fight against the oppression in their own unique ways. And ultimately each character suffers a consequence as a result of their actions. But despite these consequences, which in the story were apparent before the characters committed their actions, both characters made their choices based on what they believed was right. This is why the cashier and Harrison are both heroic figures in their stories. Works Cited 1. Updike, John. _A&P. Literature and its Writers. Ed. _Ann Charters, Samuel Charters. Bedford/St. Martins, Boston. 2009. 2. Vonnegut, Kurt. _Harrison Bergeron. Literature and its Writers. _Ed. Ann Charters, Samuel Charters. Bedford/St Martins, Boston. 2009.