Evading Loneliness Essay

In A Streetcar Named Desire, the author Tennessee Williams chooses to depict the downfall of Blanche through her desire to evade loneliness. Throughout the text, Blanche faces loneliness, yet she cannot fill her desire. After the loss of her family estate referred to as, Belle Reve, is officially rendered without family. Having lost her wealth and all her family, she develops the inability to be honest with anyone interested in her. Blanches true desire to evade loneliness causes her downfall. The story develops when Blanche loses Belle Reve. She had been living there with her young husband, Allan. Her desire to evade loneliness develops when her husband commits suicide. In scene 9 Blanche is talking to Mitch when she suddenly reminisces about the tragic night. She says, â€Å"’The ‘’’Varsouviana’†! The polka tune they were playing when Allan—Wait! [A distant revolver shout is heard. Blanche is relieved.] There now the shot! It always tops after that†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ (Norton 1853). Blanche is obviously still tenderhearted about the loss and the relief that it stopped allows readers to see that she wants Mitch to be her barrier from loneliness. If they were to marry Blanche would not fear being alone. Along with Allan, Blanche suffers the loss of multiple family members. To deal with her losses, as well as, gain company she leaves Belle Reve for New Orleans to stay with her sister, Stella. Blanche’s desire to evade loneliness is clearly shown when she is given directions to her sister’s townhome, â€Å"†¦take a street—car named Desire, and then transfer to one named Cemeteries†¦.† (Norton1805.) Williams offers the reader a chance to foreshadow that her desire will lead to her downfall. Blanche is very quick, when she sees her sister, to ask,† What are you doing in a place like this?† (Norton 1808), with a patronizing tone that does not fit the situation considering she is planning to stay with Stella. Clearly indentifying Blanche’s reasoning behind her visit is for the company of her sister. Furthermore, with the inability to be truthful Blanche rejects any hopes of filling her desire. Clearly stated by Mitch,† Lies, lies, inside and out, all lies.† (Norton 1855), this showing that the man that was on the verge of her rescue was pushed by lies. Death is the opposite of desire to sum up Blanche DuBois. Downfall is brought upon herself when she losses the family estate and she chooses to lie about herself to others. Tennessee Williams craftily depicts Blanche’s downfall through her desire to evade loneliness. Work Cited Williams, Tennessee A Streetcar Named Desire. The Norton Introduction to Literature. ED Booth and Mays 10th edition. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2010. Print.

Factors Influencing Working Capital Essay

The working capital needs of a firm are determined and influenced by various factors. A wide variety of considerations may affect the quantum of working capital required and these considerations may vary from time to time. The working capital needed at one point of time may not be good enough for some other situation. The determination of working capital requirement is a continuous process and must be undertaken on a regular basis in the light of the changing situations. Following are some of the factors which are relevant in determining the working capital needs of the firm: 1. Basic Nature of Business: The working capital requirement is closely related to the nature of the business of the firm. In case of a retail shop or a trading firm, the amount of working capital required is small enough. Most of the transactions are undertaken in cash and the length of the operating cycle is generally small. The trading concerns usually have smaller needs of working capital, however, in certain cases, large inventories of goods may be required and consequently the working capital may be large. In case of financial concerns (engaged in financial business) there may not be stock of goods but these firms do have to maintain sufficient liquidity all the times. In case of manufacturing concerns, different types of production processes are performed. One unit of raw material introduced in the production schedule may take a long period before it is available as finished goods for sale. Funds are blocked not only in raw materials but also in labor expenses and overheads at every stage of production. The operating cycle is usually a longer one and sales are made generally on credit terms. So, in case of manufacturing concerns, there is a requirement of substantial working capital. 2. Business Cycle Fluctuations: Different phases of business cycle i.e., boom, recession, recovery etc. also affect the working capital requirement. In case of boom conditions, inflationary pressure appears and business activities expand. As a result, the overall need for cash, inventories etc. increases resulting in more and more funds blocked in these current assets. Â  In case of recession period however, there is usually a dullness in business activities and there will be an opposite effect on the level of working capital requirement. There will be a fall in inventories and cash requirement etc. 3. Seasonal Operations: If a firm is operating in goods and services having seasonal fluctuations in demand, then the working capital requirement will also fluctuate with every change. In a cold drink factory, the demand will certainly be higher during summer season and therefore, more working capital is required to maintain higher production, in the form of larger inventories and bigger receivables. On the other hand, if the operations are smooth and even through out the year then the working capital requirement will be constant and will not be affected by the seasonal factors. 4. Market Competitiveness: The market competitiveness has an important bearing on the working capital needs of a firm. In view of the competitive conditions prevailing in the market, the firm may have to offer liberal credit terms to the customers resulting in higher debtors. Even larger inventories may be maintained to serve an order as and when received; otherwise the customer may go to some other supplier. Thus, the working capital tends to be high as a result of greater investment in inventories and receivable. On the other hand, a monopolistic firm may not require larger working capital. It may ask the customers to pay in advance or to wait for some time after placing the order. 5. Credit Policy: The credit policy means the totality of terms and conditions on which goods are sold and purchased. A firm has to interact with two types of credit policies at a time. One, the credit policy of the supplier of raw materials, goods etc., and two, the credit policy relating to credit which it extends to its customers. In both the cases, however, the firm while deciding its credit policy, has to take care of the credit policy of the market. For example, a firm might be purchasing goods and services on credit terms but selling goods only for cash. The working capital requirement of this firm will be lower than that of a firm which is purchasing cash but has to sell on credit basis. 6. Supply Conditions: The time taken by a supplier of raw materials, goods etc. after placing an order, also determines the working capital requirement. If goods are received as soon as or in a short period after placing an order, then the purchaser will not like to maintain a high level of inventory of that good. Otherwise, larger inventories should be kept e.g., in case of imported goods. It is often seen that the shopkeepers may not be keeping stock of all items, but whenever there is a demand, they procure from the wholesaler/producer and supply it to their customers. Thus, the working capital requirement of a firm is determined by a host of factors. Every consideration is to be weighted relatively to determine the working capital requirement. Further, the determination of working capital requirement is not once a while exercise, rather a continuous review must be made in order to assess the working capital requirement in the changing situation. There are various reasons which may require the review of the working capital requirement e.g., change in credit policy, change in sales volume etc.

Canterbury Tales Analysis

Physically the two characters appear extremely different. The knight is dressed in a fustian tunic, â€Å"Stained and dark with smudges where his armour had left mark† (Chaucer 5). Although he is a distinguished man, he dresses humbly and does not give the appearance of arrogance. It is also apparent that he carries a sword, which would match his profession as a knight because he is able to fight. The Sea Captain’s attire matches his occupation. He wears a â€Å"Woollen gown that [reaches] his knee† (Chaucer 15); he is tan and has a large beard. He carries a dagger, implying that he knows how to fight and defend himself like the Knight. Considering their occupations, one can find many similarities. They are both very proficient at their jobs. The Sea Captain is described as having no competition: â€Å"None from Hull to Carthage was his match† (Chaucer 16). He is experienced and knows the seas better than any captain. He is known for his skill at commanding his ship, the Maudelayne. He frequently travels the sea. Similarly, the knight is a traveler, except on land. He is an experienced fighter, as he has been in many battles. He was present at the battle where Alexandria was taken in 1365 by the King of Cyprus. In fifteen mortal battles he had been† (Chaucer 5). According to the examples of battles given in the text, the knight rarely loses a battle. He owns fine horses and is skilled at riding horseback. However, behavior is what really sets these two characters apart. The knight is a chivalrous man. He believes in truth, honor, and generosity. People look up to him; he is â€Å"Ever honoured for his noble graces† (Chaucer 4). A Christian and a virtuous man, he is even more humbled by his position as a knight. His many victories did not permit him to lose his modesty; instead, they led him to be wise and honorable. The Sea Captain, in contrast, is a fearsome character. When dealing with prisoners, â€Å"The nicer rules of conscience he ignored† (Chaucer 16); they walked the plank. Not a virtuous man by any means, he has a reputation of stealing goods from traders while they sleep. Those who fight him fear him. He does not have a high position in society, but his brutality and prudence make him successful in battle. He is revered for his skill and success, but people do not look up to him. In summary, the use of foil by Chaucer enables the reader to notice differences and similarities between the Knight and the Sea Captain. They have similar occupations, but different roles in society as well as nearly opposite personalities. The foil emphasizes their characteristics to make them even more prominent to the reader. For example, the knight’s Christian values make the Sea Captain seem extremely harsh and lowly in comparison. The reader will be able to gain more out of the story these characters tell because of how detailed their character sketches are. Specifically, the characters are given more depth by their similarities and differences to other characters in the tale.

Historical Case Study PowerPoint Presentation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Historical Case Study - PowerPoint Presentation Example This was the first he was placed into an institution for this disorder. Common belief was that the drugs and numerous â€Å"cures† that were available during that period, and that he was administered harmed him and made his condition worse, especially the treatment with electric shock. After the death of his mother, who had cared for him, Eduard Einstein spent his remaining days at a Zurich psychiatric hospital where he passed away aged fifty-five from a stroke. He had already broken ties with his father after his illness after telling him that he felt hatred for him (Tom Blaise Shepherd Existential Society, 2006). Einstein exhibited distorted perceptions of reality. He had perceived reality that was different from what was shared and seen by those that surrounded him, making him feel confused, anxious, and frightened. This caused him to feel and behave in different manners at different times, sometimes seeming preoccupied, detached, and distant while sometimes he was alert, vigilant, wide-awake and always occupied. Einstein also experienced illusions and hallucinations (Szasz, 2008). These are perceptive disturbances. These hallucinations manifested themselves as occurrences of perceptions that lacked a connection to any appropriate source. This was in the form of sounds and voices that other people around him could not hear, as well as seeing, smelling, tasting, and touching things that those caring for him could not. In these hallucinations, he would carry conversations with invisible people, describe his own activities, issue orders to various individuals, and even warn them of impending d isaster. His illusions manifested themselves when he would interpret sensory stimuli incorrectly, even though the stimulus was present. Einstein also exhibited signs of delusional behavior. These are personal beliefs that are false and not subject to any contradictory evidence or reason. His delusions could not be explained by his normal cultural

Personal Finance- Heath insurance Research Paper

Personal Finance- Heath insurance - Research Paper Example It works together with SEHA, the national insurance scheme to ensure proper health services. The insurance being able to cover any hospital is essential in providing the citizens are satisfied with the services they get from hospitals all over the country. The scheme provides a mandatory health insurance for the people. It is key to ensuring the realization of Qatar’s vision 2030 when it comes to providing proper health care for its people (Pallot, 2014). SEHA came into existence when Qatar formulated goals that would ensure good health care for its people and reduce the number of deaths caused by inadequate health care. The health care strategy seems to be working well for the people since its inception in the state of Qatar. The network associated with SEHA includes both private and public health care providers. The people who are eligible to register with the insurance get a list of hospitals and health care providers they can work with for the better health (Seha, 2015). The strategy of working with SEHA has provided excellent efficiency and transparency in the national health care sector. The first stage of the scheme had its implementation in July of 2013. The best feature of the first stage is that it covered the health care of women who are 12 years and above to gynecology, maternal, prenatal and postnatal clinic for their children. Other health problems related to women also receive cover in the first stage implementation of the strategy. The second phase of the study, inaugurated in April 2014 provides comprehensive insurance cover for all the Qatari citizens for all the fundamental health problems (Seha, 2015). Qatar is now at the forefront of the global initiative that calls for a comprehensive health coverage for all the people. The World Health Organization is at the forefront in ensuring all the countries around the world provide national health insurance cover. The insurance cover for the people of Qatar through SEHA has

Operation Management in Ikea to meet eco-friendly product for Coursework

Operation Management in Ikea to meet eco-friendly product for customers - Coursework Example In the next section, the researcher will brief about business background of the company. IKEA is renowned multinational Dutch furniture retailer having Swedish origin and the company was founded by Ingvar Kamprad in 1943 (IKEA PS, 2012). The company is headquartered at is Leiden, Netherlands and at present, the company is maintaining its global operation with the retail portfolio of more than 300 stores (Euromonitor International, 2009). From operational perspectives, product portfolio of the company includes customized home furnishing solution, assembled furniture, home furnishing products and large furniture (IKEA, 2013a). The furniture retail giant earns annual revenue of â‚ ¬20 billion from its business operation across the globe. IKEA has created unique selling proposition (USP) by offering Scandinavian designed future at affordable price to customers while target market for the company includes couples waiting for baby, students, working professionals, couples planning to marry and students (IKEA, 2013a). These customer groups are ready to experiment with choic e of furniture design but they are not ready to invest huge amount in furniture purchasing. As the researcher has selected Product Design as key sustainability and value chain indicator for idea hence the study will only focus on operation management initiatives of IKEA to deliver eco-friendly products to customers. According to IKEA Group (2011), the company has set environment sustainability criterion for the products and a product has to pass all the criteria during value chain process in order to get the certification. However, detail of the product design related value chain integration will be discussed in the later sections. According to IKEA Group (2011), the company does not change its mission and vision statement with the change of operating environment. The company

Incorporating Theory Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Incorporating Theory - Term Paper Example Under the structure, the theory draws information from the factors that surround the environment in which care is delivered. For the process, the theory looks at the actions healthcare professionals undertake in order to deliver quality care. Finally, the outcomes section looks at the effects on delivery of health care. This theory is most relevant to this study, as it has been successfully used in past studies that were reviewing CLASBI prevention (Dougherty, 2012; Viswanatha, 2011). The theoretical framework developed by Danabedian will ensure all components under infection control are addressed towards preventing CLASBI. The theory has been widely used in assessing the three most important components under infection control. These include the environment in which care is delivered, the actions taken during delivery of care, and the outcomes. The proposed study investigates if the use of alcohol impregnated port protector caps to decreases the number of central line-associated bloodstream infections. This follows the various research findings showing that disinfection caps may be the way to go as far as CLASBI prevention and control is concerned (Wawrzyniak et al., 2014; Wright, et al., 2013). The theory, in this case, will carry out a systematic assessment of each component of this study, which involves the environment, practices involved, and results of care provided to confirm if the proposed solution works. Every component of the theory will be incorporated into the project. This will be achieved by considering the theory’s three major components. Under structure, the theoretical framework will be used to assess the effectiveness of alcohol impregnated port protector caps. For process, the framework will be used to monitor the nurses’ activities during the delivery of care as they utilize the alcohol impregnated port protector caps. Finally, the framework will be used to assess the outcomes of the whole project in

Compare the differences between China and America on using of media Essay

Compare the differences between China and America on using of media entertainment and media effect on individual - Essay Example To this end, the paper will critique the fundamental elements and aspects of culture and provide a review of how they define dominant trends and patterns in the society. The paper will undertake a comparative analysis and review of culture and how it shapes entertainment in two countries - China and the United States of America. To this end, there will be a critical review of various aspects of culture and the media in these two countries. Fundamentally, the media captures contemporary issues and matters in a given society and community (Cowans, 2000). This is because the media often focuses on addressing dominant matters and situations as and when they unfold in the time in question. Thus, culture is central and important in defining what the mainstream mindset and expectations of the people is and what unconventional conflicts and issues come up to form an appropriate storyline for the media. "Culture provides a kaleidoscope within which human emotions are defined" (Rohn, 2009: p232). This implies that culture defines what is to be done in every stage in the human life from birth, puberty, adulthood, old age to death (Rohn, 2009). As such, the definitions of happiness and sadness is dictated by what the dominant culture values and identifies to be important. Typically, the media presents issues and matters that challenges the status quo and this is often a situation that is uncommon or unusual. This is because members of the society and audiences around the world will prefer to view issues and matters that do not really seem to be conventional or in line with the dominant practices and views of the society. Culture has a strong linkage to the media and the media has two main issues that converge to create this connection: dominant conflicts in the culture and new technology (Marsh, 2012). Marsh argues that in the normal sense, audiences to the media often seek to view things that are not in sync with the dominant

Web systems integration Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Web systems integration - Essay Example 2013 10:00AM Cyprus Germany 160 988 7/08/2013 11:00AM Cyprus Kenya 180 And 2013/08/07 123 Eurocypria 443 7/08/2013 12:00AM Cyprus France 120 444 8/08/2013 01:30PM Cyprus China 130 the XML schemas can validates XML documents that can be processed easily by tools like XML Authority, XML spy, XML Editor in Studio Application Developer. DTD is less powerful than XML schemas. Every element that DTD defines, can equally be defined by the XML schemas, but not the other way round. For instance DTD only offers validation on items already specified by XML schemas. An example of DTD is shown below. From the above DTD, the elements define the below data that is already created by XML schema (Source of DTD data). 2013/08/07 123 Eurocypria 443 7/08/2013 12:00AM ...BizTalk server has inbuilt adapters for all kinds of systems which leads to the creation of new integrations which were previously impossible to create. BizTalk server provides a number of key functionalities that would help in supporting Business Process Management. The following key functionalities can help in addressing a business integration needs. †¢ Business-to-Business (B2B) Integration: By integrating suppliers, customers and logistics providers in the business processes, it creates effectiveness in supply and demand chains by means of standardized business dealings. †¢ Enterprise Application Integration (EAI): BizTalk connects different multiple applications that are hosted on their own infrastructure, maintaining their own databases. This helps in facilitating event driven data streams between applications and processes. †¢ Business Process Orchestrations (BPO): BizTalk visually designs and executes business processes to expose composite functionalities hosted in different applications and services thus creating new â€Å"virtual† applications. †¢ Cloud Integration: Hybrid solutions are created to span applications in the business’s datacenter running in the cloud and with that it adds significant value adding to the ‘one-size-fits-all SaaS solutions applied in every company these days.

Discussing the key points of the movie Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Discussing the key points of the movie - Essay Example The main point of this movie is about doing a favor for someone and then expecting that good deed to be paid forward. Unconsciously, Trevor’s act of kindness was paid forward to many people. It was a cycle and an act of kindness which was unbroken, reaching people he did not know and who did not know him. But indeed, it started with his act of kindness. One of the other main points which have to be considered for this movie is the bravery which Trevor took on in his act of kindness. His good deed could have been scoffed and rejected by other people. This was a risk he took when he paid the favor forward, but he took the risk anyway. He was resolute in his belief that his good deed would merit more good deeds from other people; and this braveness and firm resolution became infectious, and was able to transcend his simple act of kindness. Another important point of the story is that people are basically good and kind. All that is needed perhaps is a trigger for this kindness to emerge. The trigger was Trevor. Even if people were most likely scoffing at his plans and his acts of kindness, deep inside, they probably also wanted to see how their own acts of kindness would affect other people. This goodness can emerge when people are also brave enough to pay a favor forward. A single act of resolute braveness can change a person’s mindset. It can transform him from a cynical person to one who is more inclined to believe in people’s basic goodness. These various points resonate in society today, in the sense that, it is also difficult and seemingly unimaginable for people to extend acts of kindness to other people. There is a certain cynicism among people about paying a favor forward or even basically doing a simple act of kindness. Some find it corny, others immediately ask what is in it for them, and others ask what the act of kindness would cost them in the future. It is with these cynical beliefs which make it also difficult to

Illiteracy in the US Essay Example for Free

Illiteracy in the US Essay Literacy has become a topic of concern in the entire United States of America. The media has often called for attention on the literature crisis with a large proportion of adults being illiterate. There are a large proportion of the Americans who are however, literate in their native language as well as English. However, the much concern about literacy is due to the fact that the expectations for formal education tend to increase with the changes of generations. Another concern is that many of the American adults lack literacy and more so English literacy to help them carry on well in the contemporary US society. Data from literacy surveys are considered by many policy makers as a barometer for the nation’s well being as well an indicator for the nation’s preparedness to compete in the global economy. It is also used as a measure to gauge how the schools have equipped the students with the skills that are necessary for the social, economic and political participation (Wiley, 1994, para 1). Many definitions have been given to the term illiteracy. The nature of the criterion that leads to the definition varies from one point to another. For instance, in 1930 the Bureau of the Census defined illiterate as any person over the age of 10 years who was unable to read and write in any language (http://www. encyclopedia. com/doc/1E1-illitera. html). However in the census of 1940, the issue of functional illiteracy was adopted. In this case, any person with less than five years of schooling was considered to be functionally illiterate, (http://www. encyclopedia. com/doc/1E1-illitera. html). Since then, the concept of functional illiterate has grown, but there have been many changes in the definition with the complexity in most social activities. By 1970, the office of the US Education considered the minimum years for literacy to be 6 years and sometimes 8 years for schooling to be a minimum criterion for functional literacy. According to the report of (http://www. encyclopedia. com/doc/1E1-illitera. html), in 1990, about 5% of the adult Americans did not meet the criterion. According to the United Nations, illiteracy is the inability to read and write a simple message in any language. Using the definition of the United Nations, the United States and Canada have an overall illiteracy rate of about 1%. However, in some disadvantaged areas of the rural south in the United States, the rate of illiteracy is much higher (http://www. encyclopedia. com/doc/1E1-illitera. html). Literacy has been laden with related issues such as quality of life. Members of the minority group who do not have any of their literature written in their own language or any other language are usually marginalized and usually on the downside of the digital divide. It has been found that income of an individual correlates with the education level of that individual Literacy rate Per capita income Below 40% Less than $600 Above 98% More than $12,000 Source: (http://www. sil. org/literacy/issues. htm) According to these figures, as the literacy rate doubles so does the per capita income. In economic terms this may mean that literacy has some payoffs and it is thus a worthwhile investment. Illiteracy on the other hand may be a loss of income to the individual as well as the society at large. â€Å"According to the National Adult Literacy survey, in the US alone, adults estimated price tag of more than $17 billion per year as a result of lost revenue, welfare, unemployment, crime and incarceration, and industry†, (http://www.sil. org/literacy/issues. htm Para 4). This implies that the price tag for illiteracy is much more than the cost of literacy. However, literacy cannot merely be equated to better jobs, on its own, but several factors have to be put in consideration. For instance, fluent literacy, well developed writing skills, mathematics and general knowledge that is far beyond what was acquired in a normal class of adult literacy. Furthermore, literacy cannot be necessarily equated to wealth. However, literacy would mean betterment of live of the people in general. Literacy would therefore be able to provide an option for the member of the society to become more self esteem, understand issues well, and be able to represent themselves. Adult functional illiteracy is a major problem hidden in the United States society that affects all the adults regardless of the race, gender, or economic status. â€Å"An estimated 27 million Americans are functionally illiterate; they are unable to read, comprehend, write or compute at a level which enables them function in a complex world,† (Bell 1984, pp 1). The pool of functional illiterates continues to increase each year especially with the increasing number of immigrants. The other cost of functional illiteracy is that no adult can be able to secure and keep a job while being illiterate. Functional illiteracy lowers productivity and contributes to unemployment in the society. For the functional illiterate adults who manage to get employment, they contribute to a lot of loss to the organization due to issues such as clerical errors, mistakes on production lines or even industrial accidents that can be caused by the functional illiterates. According to Bell, many studies have shown that there is a correlation between illiteracy and crime, as many of the inmates are illiterate (pp1). There is an urgent need to be able to communicate efficiently in the United States. The ability to read and write is one of the chief means of communication. Adult illiterates must be taught properly how to read and write so that they can function successfully in the society. There many methods that are used to teach adult literacy in the United States however, most do not work effectively. Most of the programs are affected by inconvenience scheduling of classes, physical distance that causes transportation problem, and change of address (Kim, 1997, para 2). Many people have devised means of tackling adult illiteracy, but there is no single agreed solution that has been reached at. The solutions in fact have ended up causing quarrels between the policy makers and the organizers of adult literacy programs. There are many countless ideas on how to solve adult education because there are many researchers that have published there ideas about adult education, while others just publish papers for the sake of publishing (Kim 1997 para 4). Some authors in fact just publish for the sake of contradicting and contrasting what they see as wrong and invalid ideas. Therefore it can be argued that some authors just publish their work without minding what it contributes to the community. It is not unusual for one author to come across ideas published that are different from his/hers. In such cases, some authors will take initiative to contradict the other authors purposely. Therefore, to avoid various confusions on the ideas of adult education, the government should take initiatives to take part greatly in adult education by providing more resources such as teachers and the locations of the education centers that are convenient to the students. Works Cited Bell T H. Toward a learning society; the Secretary of Education discusses the breadth of the Problem of adult functional illiteracy and his commitment to solve it, 1984. Retrieved on 18th Dec 2007 from http://findarticles. com/p/articles/mi_m1011/is_v20/ai_3199375

War on Drugs Essay Example for Free

War on Drugs Essay Not surprisingly, cases like the foregoing generated a public backlash-perhaps the only significant one since the War on Drugs was declared in 1982. It pressured Congress into creating what is known as the innocent owner defense to such in rem forfeitures, but even that gesture of reasonableness is largely illusory. First, the defense does not redress the gross imbalance between the value of property forfeited and the personal culpability of the owner. For example, a Vermont man was found guilty of growing six marijuana plants. He received a suspended sentence, but he and his family lost their 49-acre farm. Similarly, a New York man forfeited his $145,000 condominium because he sold cocaine to an informant for $250. The law provides no limit to the value of property subject to forfeiture, even for very minor drug offenses. Second, the innocent owner defense places the burden on the property claimant to demonstrate that he or she acted or failed to act without knowledge, consent or willful blindness of the drug activities of the offender. Thus, the Federal government instituted forfeiture proceedings in the Delray Beach, Fla. , area against numerous properties containing convenience stores or other businesses where drug transactions took place, claiming that the owners made insufficient efforts to prevent drug dealings. Placing the burden on the claimant imposes expense and inconvenience because the claimant must hire a lawyer to mount a challenge to the seizure. Moreover, many cases involve the family house or car, and it often is difficult to prove that one family member had no knowledge of or did not consent to the illegal activities of another. For instance, a Florida court held that a claimant did not use reasonable care to prevent her husband from using her automobile in criminal activity; thus, she was not entitled to the innocent owner defense. A particularly cruel application of this kind of vicarious responsibility for the wrongs of another is seen in the governments policy of evicting impoverished families from public housing because of the drug activities of one unruly child. The Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988 specifically states that a tenants lease is a forfeitable property interest and that public housing agencies have the authority to hire investigators to determine whether drug laws are being broken. The act authorizes eviction if a tenant, member of his or her household, guest, or other person under his or her control is engaged in drug-related activity on or near public housing premises. To carry out these provisions, the act funded a pilot enforcement program. In 1990, the Departments of Justice and Housing and Urban Development announced a Public Housing Asset Forfeiture Demonstration Project in 23 states. The project pursued lease forfeitures and generated considerable publicity. In passing this law, it must have been obvious to Congress that many innocent family members would suffer along with the guilty. Perhaps it was thought vital, nonetheless, as a way of protecting other families from drugs in public housing projects. As experience proves, however, even evicted dealers continue to deal in and around the projects. It is hard to take public housing lease forfeitures very seriously, therefore, other than as a symbolic statement of the governments tough stand against illegal drugs. Destructive consequences A policy that destroys families, takes property from the innocent, and tramples the basic criminal law principles of personal responsibility, proportionality, and fairness has spillover effects into other public policy domains. One area in which the fanaticism of the drug warriors perhaps is most evident is public health. Drugs such as marijuana and heroin have well-known medical applications. Yet, so zealous are the anti-drug forces that even these therapeutic uses effectively have been banned. Marijuana, for instance, has many applications as a safe and effective therapeutic agent. Among them are relief of the intraocular pressure caused by glaucoma and alleviating the nausea caused by chemotherapy. Some AIDS patients also have obtained relief from using cannabis. Yet, marijuana is classified by the Attorney General of the U. S. , not the Surgeon General, as a Schedule I drug-one having a high potential for abuse, no currently accepted medicinal use, and lack of accepted safety for utilization. It thereby is deemed beyond the scope of legitimate medical practice and thus is not generally available to medical practitioners. The only exception was an extremely limited program of compassionate treatment of the terminally or seriously ill, but even that has been eliminated for political reasons. Assistant Secretary James O. Mason of the Department of Health and Human Services announced in 1991 that the Public Health Services provision of marijuana to patients seriously ill with AIDS would be discontinued because it would create a public perception that this stuff cant be so bad. After a review caused by protests from AIDS activists, the Public Health Service decided in March, 1992, to stop supplying marijuana to any patients save the 13 then receiving it. There also are beneficial uses for heroin. Terminal cancer patients suffering from intractable pain generally obtain quicker analgesic relief from heroin than from morphine. Many doctors believe that heroin should be an option in the pharmacopeia. Accordingly, in 1981, the American Medical Association House of Delegates adopted a resolution stating that the management of pain relief in terminal cancer patients should be a medical decision and should take priority over concerns about drug dependence. Various bills to accomplish that goal were introduced in the 96th, 97th, and 98th Congresses. The Compassionate Pain Relief Act was brought to the House floor for a vote on Sept. 19, 1984, but was defeated by 355 to 55. Although there were some concerns voiced about thefts from hospital pharmacies, the overwhelming concern was political and symbolic a heroin legalization bill could not be passed in an election year and, in any event, would send the public the wrong message. The final and perhaps most outrageous example in this catalog of wrongs against public health care is the nearly universal American refusal to permit established addicts to exchange used needles for sterile ones in order to prevent AIDS transmission among intravenous drug users. In 1991, the National Commission on AIDS recommended the removal of legal barriers to the purchase and possession of intravenous drug injection equipment. It found that 32% of all adult and adolescent AIDS cases were related to intravenous drug use and that 70% of mother-to-child AIDS infections resulted from intravenous drug use by the mother or her sexual partner. Moreover the commission found no evidence that denial of access to sterile needles reduced drug abuse, but concluded that it did encourage the sharing of contaminated needles and the spread of the AIDS virus. Notwithstanding the commissions criticism of the governments myopic criminal justice approach to the drug situation, the prevailing view is that needle exchange programs encourage drug abuse by sending the wrong message. Public safety is sacrificed when, nationwide, more than 18,000 local, sheriffs, and state police officers, in addition to thousands of Federal agents, are devoted full time to special drug units. As a result, countless hours and dollars are diverted from detecting and preventing more serious violent crimes. Thirty percent of an estimated 1,100,000 drug-related arrests made during 1990 were marijuana offenses, nearly four out of five for mere possession. Tax dollars would be spent better if the resources it took to make approximately 264,000 arrests for possession of marijuana were dedicated to protecting the general public from violent crime. The intensive pursuit of drug offenders has generated an enormous population of convicts held in prison for very long periods of time as a result of excessive and/or mandatory jail terms. It is estimated that the operating cost of maintaining a prisoner ranges from $20,000 to $40,000 per year, depending upon the location and level of security at a particular prison. With more than 800,000 men and women in American correctional facilities today, the nationwide cost approaches $30,000,000,000 per year. This is a major diversion of scarce resources. These financial burdens are only part of the price incurred as a result of the relentless drive to achieve higher and higher arrest records. More frightening and damaging are the injuries and losses caused by the early release of violent criminals owing to prison overcrowding. Commonly, court orders impose population caps, so prison authorities accelerate release of violent felons serving non-mandatory sentences in order to free up beds for non-violent drug offenders serving mandatory, non-parolable terms. For example, to stay abreast of its rapidly growing inmate population, Florida launched one of the nations most ambitious early release programs. However, prisoners serving mandatory terms most of them drug offenders, who now comprise 36% of the total prison population are ineligible. As a result, the average length of sentence declined dramatically for violent criminals, while it rose for drug offenders. Murderers, robbers, and rapists often serve less time than a cocaine mule carrying a kilo on a bus, who gets a mandatory 15-year term. A Department of Justice survey showed that 43% of state felons on probation were rearrested for a crime within three years of sentencing. In short, violent criminals are released early to commit more crimes so that their beds can be occupied by nonviolent drug offenders. Civil libertarians are not heard often defending a societal right to be secure from violent criminals, much less a right of victims to see just punishment meted out to offenders. In this they are as shortsighted as their law-and-order counterparts. The War on Drugs is a public safety disaster, making victims of us all. However uncomfortable it may be to admit, the undeniable reality is that drugs always have been and always will be a presence in society. Americans have been paying too high a price for the governments War on Drugs. As Federal judge William Schwarzer has said, It behooves us to think that it may profit us very little to win the war on drugs if in the process we lose our soul. http://www. serendipity. li/wod. html

Reckitt Benckiser plc

Reckitt Benckiser plc History In 1814 Jeremiah Colman begins milling flour and mustard in Norwich, UK. Jeremiah then diversifies in the mid-century into starch, wheat flour and laundry blue. Johann A. Benckiser founded Benckiser in 1823 from industrial chemicals. Isaac Reckitt rented and then later bought a starch mill in hull in 1848. He diversified into other household products and became the owner of starch, washing blue and black lead for polishing. After his death his four sons took his place. Then in 1888 Reckitt Sons was first launched on the London Stock Exchange. Reckitt Sons merged with J J Colman to become Reckitt Colman Ltd in 1938 and then finally in 1999 Reckitt Colman plc and Benckiser N.V. merged to become Reckitt Benckiser plc The worlds no. 1 in house hold cleaning. Introduction Reckitt Benckiser plc is a United Kingdom based company which was formed with the merger of Reckitt Colman, plc. and Benckiser N.V. Reckitt Benckiser Inc. manufactures markets and sells household, cleaning and specialty food products in North America. These products include LYSOL ® cleaners and disinfectants, RESOLVE ® cleaners, SPRAYNWASH ® laundry stain removers and FRENCHS ® mustard. Reckitt Benckiser plc is one of the worlds leading manufacturers of cleaning products and a member of the FTSE 100 index of the largest companies traded on the London Stock Exchange. It is headquartered in the town of Slough just to the west of Greater London. Reckitt Benckiser has operations in more than sixty countries and sells its products in more than 180 countries. Turnover for the year to 31 December 2004 was  £ 3,871 million. Profits before tax were  £770 million, and net profits were  £586 million. The company focuses on high margin products and has shown strong growth in earnings per share in recent years. At 31 August 2005, it had a market capitalisation of  £12.4 billion. Vision and Future Strategy According to Reckitt Benckiser, â€Å"We are a truly global company with a consumer- oriented vision, with operations in 60 countries, sales in 180 countries and et revenues in excess of  £4 billion† The vision is to passionately deliver better solutions in household cleaning and health, personal care of the ultimate purpose of creating shareholders value. Reckitt Benckiser has an exciting future where the people and the companys brands can continue to deliver profitable growth to the benefit of employees and shareholders. The main strategy is to focus on household cleaning, to maintain a clear strategy for profitable top line growth, plan and define the program for improved financial returns and to develop a strong focused team. The organisations vision is also to keep delivering better products to consumers that improve their lives at crucial moments and specially to drive sales growth through focus and constant innovation while optimising costs to expand margins and profi ts. Way of working in Reckitt Benckiser is open and direct. Nothing is sacred. Thats the way they have built market leading brands across the world. They challenge each other in an open and direct way, sharing ideas, solutions and best practice. They hire people who recognize the need to beat the competition every time but who understand that the competition doesnt include their colleagues. They look for diverse characters that spark off each other, are creative and generate fresh thinking. Environmental Analysis Reckitt Benckiser is dedicated to running its business in a responsible, environmentally sound and sustainable manner. It is recognized that Reckitts processes and products have both direct and indirect environmental impacts. v Political and Legal Business decisions are also influenced by political and legal forces, which determine the rules by which business is conducted. Political forces play a major role in international markets, where decisions by government can often have profound implications for companies. [David Jobber 2nd Edition] Political action, then, in the form of legislation and less formal directives, can have a profound influence on business conduct. Reckitt and Benckiser perhaps more than any organisation reacts to the political and legal situations. Spread in 60 countries Reckitt and Benckiser has to take care of different policies and government laws in each of the different country. [Policy Reports 2006] The household and health personal care industry is heavily regulated by, inter alia, the European Union, the United States government and individual country governments elsewhere. Ingredients, manufacturing standards, labour standards, product safety, marketing and advertising claims are all subject to d etailed and developing regulation. Reckitt and Benckiser publish its annual financial statements in sterling but conducts business in many foreign currencies. As a result, it is subject to foreign currency exchange risk due to the effects that exchange rate movements have on the translation of the results and the underlying net assets of its foreign subsidiaries. v Ecological Reckitt and Benckiser has a real commitment of running their business in a responsible, environmentally sound and sustainable manner. The strategy is to realise the opportunities and manage the risks that arise from the environmental impacts of the business in order to achieve continuous improvement in our environmental performance and progress towards environmental sustainability. Its is a new project of the business to plant more than two million trees in over 15 square kilometres of new forests and to make more than 8 billion products which will be produces globally from ‘carbon neutral. [Simeon Goldstien 2007] v Technological Reckitt and Benckiser is increasingly building a business that they can be proud of. The products and the business are a force for good in the world. This includes powerful and developing track record on sustainability through initiatives such as the Trees for Change programme on carbon reduction, or the ‘reduce energy and water programme on automatic dishwashing. The business is planning to get more of the recent available technologies in order to improve production methods of the company that will later result into higher sale and our brand will be able to compete other brands available in the market. In 2006 our factory commissioned the Companys first solar panel which is working alongside the highly efficient Combined Heat and Power energy plant. Another plant was setup in South Korea at Reckitt and Benckiser factory iksan. Renewable energy is helping the organization to meet and exceed their target of a 20 % reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from out manufacturing energy use by 2010. [Accounts : 2006] v Social Reckitt Benckiser recognises its accountability to the community in which it operates and seeks to actively support and enrich these communities. Our community involvement policy sets out the broad principles through which we support community work throughout our operations. Our annual newsletter on our community involvement demonstrates how we are turning these principles into action and making There should be a positive contribution to the societies in which we live and work. Reckitt Benckiser continues to invest over  £1 million per year towards projects that really make a difference to people in the communities in which we operate around the world. As well as the company providing much needed financial support, our people also give unselfishly of their time on a range of projects that assist those who can benefit from some help and support. v Economical The un-audited financial information is prepared in accordance with the Listing Rules of the Financial Services Authority and on the basis of the IFRS accounting policies that the Directors intend to use in the 2006 annual report. This basis is subject to amendment by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). The Directors have chosen not to early adopt International Accounting Standard 34: Interim Financial Reporting (IAS 34). Consequently the financial information in this interim report is not presented in accordance with IAS 34. This consolidated financial information has been prepared under the historical cost convention, as modified by the revaluation of financial assets and liabilities at fair value through the Group income statement subject to the Groups hedge accounting policies. The results and net assets of the Groups subsidiary in Zimbabwe have been excluded from the consolidated Group results. This is on the basis that the Group does not consider the Zimbabwean business to be a subsidiary due to the loss of power to govern the financial and operating policies of the Zimbabwean business and to the restrictions on remitting funds out of the country. Results for 2005 (half and full year) and 2006 half year, and the balance sheets as at 30 June 2005, 31 December 2005 and 30 June 2006, were insignificant. Risks The Companys new product pipeline may not generate consumer- relevant innovation and improvement to fuel growth and build market shares. There are possibilities that management turnover might significantly increase. Another possibility that information technology systems may be disrupted or may fail, despite the companys disaster recovery processes, interfering with the Companys ability to conduct its business. Customers, mainly large retailers, may decide to de-list the Companys brands, or not participate in the active promotion of the brands through in-store programmes. Product Quality Safety is very essential and failures in product quality controls could potentially lead to damage to the reputation of and trust in the Companys brands. Most product and raw material supply chains present a number of potential reputation risks relating to labour standards, raw material sourcing, and the social, ethical and environmental performance of the third party manufacturers and suppliers. There should be effective recruitment process in order to attract the best from the market. They should introduce compensation program to retain the valued employees by market competitive salary, incentives, bonuses and protective programs. Training programs are very essential in all type of business; they should carry out training to the employees for continuous development of employee skills. Recommendations The following recommendations have been recommended after a thorough analysis of the Environment: Decision making at Reckitt Benckiser should be decentralized. On company platform each department is involved in decisions related to products. For example in case of new product launch, cost department determines the cost of new product, marketing department decides if it can sell the product at the given price. Suppliers are involved if they can provide the raw materials for the new product and distributors are involved to effectively distribute the product. Thus each department is involved but participation of the finance department is fundamental because if the cost calculated for the new product is too high accounting department would give the critical decision of not launching the product no matter how innovative the initial idea was. Conclusion Based on the strength of the business they expect net revenue growth for the full year of around 15% at constant exchange (base  £4,179m) and are upgrading their targeted adjusted net income growth (base  £653m) to 14%, at actual exchange. Net revenues grew 18% (15% constant) to  £2,386m. The underlying business (excluding BHI) grew 8% (6% constant). †¢ BHI contributed net revenues of  £204m. Restructuring costs for the BHI acquisition were  £57m. †¢ Operating profit as reported increased 6% to  £367m. Operating profit before restructuring charges increased 23% to  £424m. †¢ Net income as reported was 3% lower at  £261m. Earnings per share for the period were 1% lower at 35.5 pence. Net income before restructuring increased 13% to  £303m. EPS diluted, before restructuring grew 15% to 41.2p. †¢ Cash generated from operations increased 30% to  £616m. Net borrowings at the half year were  £795m. †¢ The interim dividend will be increased 14% to 20.5 pence per share and the Company is committed to its  £300m share buyback program this year. [Annual Report 2006] List of References Accounts 2006 http://www.reckittbenckiser.com/Sites/annual_report_2006/site/alternate/rb_txt_changeit.html Policy Reports 2006 http://www.reckittbenckiser.com/RBTemplates/CorporateResponsibilityReports.aspx?pageid=262 David Jobber, Principles of Marketing, Second Edition. Business and Human rights http://www.business-humanrights.org/Categories/Individualcompanies/R/ReckittBenckiser Simeon Goldstien 2007 http://www.packagingnews.co.uk/news/764320/Reckitt-Benckiser-combat-consumer-carbon-use/ [Word Count: 1,911]

The Fundamental Challenges of Resource Allocation :: Essays Papers

The Fundamental Challenges of Resource Allocation The budget is a crucial factor in library management. Automation, continuing education, information technology, materials acquisition, personnel salaries, and public relations necessitate funding. Each of these resources is important for any library that wishes to provide excellent services to its employees and patrons. Unfortunately because of poor resource allocation, many library services are phased out or severely cut back. This directly affects the efficiency of the library and also lowers the satisfaction level of the user. There are many ways of how budgets affect a library. A prime example is in the area of personnel salaries. Oftentimes committees have been established to study and implement salary setting policies. However, it can be difficult to gauge the many factors that need to be considered when determining salary issues. Examples of these factors include experience, education qualifications such as an MLS degree or beyond, and the economic situation in the country at the time coupled with the determination of salaries based upon other library institutions (Williams, D.E.. and Garten E.D. 1999). Additionally, the budget can affect both materials acquisition and information technology in the library. The cost effectiveness of certain collections of materials should be considered. For example, government documents are often inexpensive to purchase in contrast to some journals or periodical subscriptions (Smith, D.H. 1993). One must also consider possible sources for the acquisition of materials. Budgeting needs to be taken into consideration when considering how much funding should be allocated for purchasing the material and how much reliance should be placed on donations. The efficiency and cost effectiveness of new technology must also be examined. For example one must consider automatic checkout as compared to circulation checkout. Another consideration that affects IT technology is what operating system the server will utilize to host the World Wide Web. Many libraries use UNIX based information systems to operate their client server network. Continuing education for library employees is another factor that is dependent upon the budget. Different education programs bring with them different costs. These include both money and time. When creating the budget it's important to evaluate the cost and effectiveness of each program. Public relations also are related to the budget. Certain allocations of funds need to be made by the library to market its services to the public. Visibility is important for the library so that people know where it is and what materials it has.

The Significance of Religion in Hamlet Essay -- Hamlet Essays

Summary -The tragedy of Hamlet is one of the most important of Shakespeare’s plays and one that is published and performed as part of the rainbow of world literature. This paper investigates the role of religion for the characters and their actions, and presents a new interpretation using religion to understand the characters’ motives. The paper concludes that although Christianity is the main influence on Hamlet, Shakespeare also used Grecian religious symbols. Hamlet suffered from a psychological shock, then re-evaluated the events around him in light of his religious views. Hamlet reveals how Shakespeare used his ability in rhetoric to create a religious message about the church and re-created the values of right and wrong according to his own view. ******************************************************************************** Undoubtedly, it is difficult to find free space in the land of the battle which thousands of horses’ hooves have crushed; similarly, when researching Hamlet, one finds a plethora of papers in diverse fields including philosophy, religion, feminism, literature, psychology, culture, and history covering a wide range of aspects of the play. This study examines the function of religion for the people and events of Hamlet, offering a different perspective on the characters’ motives. The essay begins with a summary of the play, and then discusses the characters, especially the protagonist, to elicit the influence of religion. The central questions which this paper will address are: Are the characters ‘believers’? Was the main protagonist, Hamlet, a believer? Is faith given a positive or negative value in the play? To what extent does religion help us to illustrate and understand the play’s events? Was ... ...: Routledge & Kegan Paul Ltd. Available from: http://books.google.com.sa/books?id=irM9AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA117&lpg=PA117&dq=%22+that+the+night-wandering+demons,+who+rejoice+in+dunnest+shades,+at+the+crowing+of+the+cock+tremble+and+scatter+in+sore+affright.%22%22&source=bl&ots=6S_hg403jd&sig=lBs136cVBCxXXStXAmQQTt9AxRk&hl=ar&ei=QnfQS7T4I4v3-Aap6YA0&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CBMQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=%22%20that%20the%20night-wandering%20demons%2C%20who%20rejoice%20in%20dunnest%20shades%2C%20at%20the%20crowing%20of%20the%20cock%20tremble%20and%20scatter%20in%20sore%20affright.%22%22&f=false [accessed 20 April - 2015] Voss, P. 2002 'Assurances of Faith: How Catholic was Shakespeare? How Catholic are his Plays?' Crisis 20, No. 7 (July/August), pp. 34-39. It is available from: http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/arts/al0147.html [Accessed 24 April 2015]

How Nutrients Get in, and Wastes Out :: essays research papers

How Nutrients Get in, and Wastes Out. In a human being, nutrients are necessary for survival. But how are these nutrients obtained? This report will go into depth on how the food we eat gets into our cells, and how the waste products that we produce get out of the body. Also, the unicellular organism Paramecium will be compared with a human being, in terms of all of the above factors. Dietary Nutrients The chief nutrients in a diet are classified chemically in four groups: carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins (Which do not require digestion) and fats. Carbohydrates in the diet occour mainly in the form of starches. These are converted by the digestive process to glucose, one of the main nutrients needed for cellular respiration to occour. Starch is a large molecule, a polymer of glucose. Dextrin and maltose are intermediate products in the digestion of starch. Some foods contain carbohydrates in the form of sugars. These are the simple sugars, such as sucrose (cane sugar) or lactose (milk sugar), that must be processed into smaller units. Occasionally, the simplest form of sugar, a monosaccharide such as glucose, is present in food. These monosaccharides do not require digestion. Proteins are polymers composed of one or more amino acids. When they are digested, they produce free amino acids and ammonia. Vitamins are a vital part of our food that are absorbed through the small intestine. There are two different types of vitamins, water-soluble (All the B vitamins, and vitamin C) and fat-soluble (vitamins A, D and K). Neutral fats, or triglycerides, are the principal form of dietary fat. They are simple compounds, and within digestion are broken down into glycerol and fatty acids, their component parts. Ingestion Intake of food in the Paramecium is controlled by the needs of the cell. When food is sensed, the organism guides itself towards the food, and guides it into the oral groove, then enclosing it in a vacuole. Enzymes are then secreted to digest the food, which is then absorbed into the cytoplasm and made available to the various organelles. But, a Paramecium has to be able to move to its food source, while a human cell has his food brought to it through the circulatory system. In man, a much more complicated system exists than that of a unicellular organism, for the size of the animal and the fact that all of the cells within the animal must be able to absorb food and get rid of wastes, just like the Paramecium does. Digestion in the Mouth Upon entering the mouth, the food is mixed by mastication with saliva, which

Preschool Literacy Essay

2 This paper is going to outline the myriad of benefits that high-quality preschool literacy programs will afford families, communities, school districts and the world. Today, numerous researchers are delving into HOW to establish an effective and successful pre-school program. In this paper, I hope to answer several questions: ? What is pre-school literacy? ? What benefits do participants in a preschool program receive? ? HOW do we go about establishing a high-quality pre-school literacy program? I am rather passionate about this area. Being a speech pathologist, literacy skills and communication skills are so interwoven it is difficult to separate them. I have to say that while going to school many years ago, we didn’t learn that much about literacy as it related to speech and language development. It is only recently that researchers and educators have identified the importance of how both developmental areas are linked. I feel that establishing successful and highly effective programs that incorporate family and child directed activities are crucial to the success of our young students. That being said, let’s explore pre-school literacy. What is preschool literacy? Most people hear the word ‘literacy’ and equate that with ‘reading’. This would be an adult analogy. For very young children, we don’t, nor should we, expect them to read! Early literacy skills refer to many different things, none of which is sitting down with Mom at the age of two and reading aloud for her. At the youngest ages, early literacy skills refer to children’s exposure and experience with books. The following list is derived from Schickendanz (1999) and Early Literacy (www. zerotothree. com) . It states that early literacy behaviors include: ? Book handling behaviors – handling and manipulating the book ? Looking and Recognizing- how are they paying attention to the book, pictures, words; demonstrating recognition of pictures, etc. ? Picture and Story Comprehension – Imitation of actions noted in a story, talking about a story ? Story-Reading Behaviors – verbal interactions with the books, imitating a pointing a finger at words and/or pictures. ‘Establishing strong early literacy behaviors is essential to literacy development and should be the focus of early language and literacy programs’ (Early Literacy, 2003) It is suggested that these skills develop naturally and unfold as a result of social interactions with parents and caregivers, rather than direct instruction. I agree with this statement wholeheartedly. Ideally, it is everyday interactions with infants and toddlers that include talking and book reading that help establish the crucial beginning stages of literacy development. I recently heard on a radio program (can’t cite it) that children between the ages of 0-3 years should hear approximately 30,000 words a day to build an effective vocabulary! Amazing. Todd Risley, co-author of Meaningful differences in the 3 everyday Experiences of young American children (Mangione, 2005), states that isn’t an intentional teaching of these behaviors but rather embedded in the social interactions. He believes, as do I, that oral language skills appear to be the basis of phonological processing skills, which is a strong indicator for reading readiness in kindergarten. As children move into the preschool realm, (typically described as ages 3 through 5), prereading skills are developing along a continuum, rather than as a set of discrete and separate skills. In the article Critical Issue: Addressing the literacy Needs of Emergent and Early Readers (www. ncrel. org), the authors made a very interesting point I’d like to share with you. They discussed the various stages of literacy development that are not relevant to this article, however, an important transition occurs when a child’s â€Å"‘reading’ of a story changes from sounding like oral language to sounding like written language. This demonstrates a change in ideas from thinking of reading as spoken words to understanding that reading is recreated from written text that has special wordings† (McGee & Richgels, 1996;Sulzby, 1991). It is the beginning of the child’s print recognition. With respect to specific pre-school literacy behaviors that we should see addressed in a high-quality preschool program, the most important would be: ? Oral Language- engaging in rich conversational exchange with students, developing oral vocabulary, reading aloud daily, having children develop their own stories by looking at pictures (Tomie DiPola books are excellent for this) ? General Knowledge – what prior knowledge are the student’s coming into school with that they share, encouraging questions and new experiences with in the classroom, ? Print Awareness- being exposed to various written materials, some repetition of early literacy behaviors, point/drag techniques while reading ? Alphabet knowledge – the ABC song, recognizing sounds that letters make, letter recognition. ? Phonological awareness- Increased awareness of the sounds of the letters and how to play with them through rhyme, segmenting, blending, ? Pre-writing skills – later stages of development and exposure to writing mediums (pen, pencil, crayon, markers, paint), using journals with self-made pictures, word walls. (Roskos, K; Christie, J, Richgels, D, www. naeyc. org) How do participants in high-quality preschool programs benefit? I think I could go on for days about the benefits of an excellent preschool experience. For the sake of brevity, I won’t! Numerous studies have been conducted to determine whether preschool programs are beneficial and cost effective. The majority of studies suggest the answer to that is an overwhelming YES. 4 The Chicago Child Parent Center (CPC), the High/Scope Perry Preschool Program and the Abecedarian Project are all examples of highly qualified preschool programs. The CPC is recognized by the US Department of Education as an exemplary early childhood program. A comparison of the benefits of these programs was conducted, yielding what I thought were incredible results. These programs have been in effect since the 1960’s, servicing low-income areas in Chicago and Michigan (Lee, J, www.ccsso. org). In a speech given by Dr. W. Steven Barnett of the National Institute for Early Intervention Research in 2006, three separate studies compared the results of participants enrolled in the above-mentioned preschool programs against a control group that wasn’t enrolled in any preschool program. Their longitudinal studies revealed amazing results, which are credited to the attending of the preschool programs. According to them, participants in the program (as compared with non-participants): ? Were less likely to be enrolled in special education ? Had a higher rate of high school completion ? Demonstrated higher test scores ? Were less likely to repeat a grade ? Had increased earning after completing high school ? Engaged in less criminal activities ? Had a lower incidence of smoking, pregnancy and abortion. These benefits did not stop at the poverty line. They also demonstrated that middle class children benefited from the experience as well. He discussed the well-known fact that disadvantaged children benefit more when they are in class with children from different socio-economic backgrounds. An analysis I found very interesting was that ‘For every dollar invested into the preschool programs described in this paper $7 is saved in public expenditures’ (Lee. www. ccsso. org). WOW, think what that could mean to a superintendent’s budget! When trying to determine whether a preschool program could benefit those in the middle class, the US Dept. of Education, NCES, (1997) article entitled Dropout rates in the United States:1995 determined that middle class children have fairly high rates of the problems that preschool reduces for low-income children. While benefits decrease gradually with an income increase, the overall benefits are greater when ALL children are exposed to PreK. In an evaluation of 5 state prek programs conducted by Barnett,W. S, Lamy, C. and Jung, K. (2005), results revealed that in all programs, whether universal or targeted, students demonstrated gains in language, literacy and math. While all students (various SES backgrounds) gained, the low-income students gained more. Soooooo†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 5 How do we go about establishing high-quality preschool literacy programs? In an ideal world with unlimited funding, it wouldn’t be too difficult. However, we don’t live in an ideal world and much needed financing is often diverted to other important (or not so important! ) causes. Really, what is more important than education? One resolution could be to emulate the success demonstrated by the Chicago and Michigan programs spoken about earlier in this paper. In Rockland County, some school disctricts already offer a district-based preschool program. This year, all districts were alloted slots to participate in a Universal PreK initiative. However, while that is an excellent start to establishing a much needed entity, a lot of work still exists. During my research gathering I read many, many articles that discussed the family-centered literacy approach. Such as at the CPC, involving the parents and providing them with strategies and useful techniques to help their children empowers them and makes them feel useful and successful. Without parental involvement at the preschool level, literacy development suffers. Since the institution of NCLB, many school disstricts are seeking wasys to provide needed support to their students without it becoming a ‘special ed’ component or target program. Instituting a universal prek program benefits all. Looking at the various achievement gaps that Dr. Barnett identified in his paper, while there is significantly more of an achievement gap at the lower SES levels, there are still marked gaps in the middle class level, thus further justifying why ALL students would benefit from the experience. In an effort to establish successful high-quality preschool programs in Texas, the retired CEO of Texas Instruments was aware of the huge impact the Perry Preschool Program had on its communities and he was eager to replicate that success in Texas. Therefore, after establishing a successful pilot program, the participants wanted to be able to spread the success throughout the state and a handbook â€Å"Improving Early Literacy of Preschool Children’ was developed for prekindergarten educators. The authors and editors really were able to target what a high-quality program looks like with suggestions on how to implement them into your existing programs. The following steps are indicated to improve a preschool program: ? Set goals ? Create an improvement plan ? Build a classroom library ? Train the teachers and encourage collaboration? Keep rack of student’s progress ? Inform and involve parents 6 ? Communicate with elementary schools the children will attend ? Measure and document results (Dougherty, 1999) All of these steps are so important to developing a program that is successful. It is hard to determine whether one step is more important than another. Personally, I really feel that if the teachers and the teaching assistants and/or aides are given the proper training, every interaction with a child will take on new meaning. The Margaret Cone Head Start Center in Southeast Dallas has serviced predominantly low-income populations. As part of their language enrichment program (LEAP), each teacher attends six weeks of instruction at the nearby university as well as several workshops a year. Because of these teacher trainings, Cone Center children have produced improved scores on a variety of tests targeting vocabulary, language skills and social skills. I believe that involving the parents as much as possible and having them in the classroom for a half-day a week or twice a month lets them see what is happening and provides modeling they can use at home. Obstacles that I can identify at this point to establishing high-quality preschool programs that ALL children can attend include: ? FUNDING ? Private preschool programs vs. school district based programs ? Consistent participation on the part of the parents ? Difficulty providing quality training programs for the teachers and teaching assistants/aides due to lack of funding, time, resources While I feel there are many excellent examples of qualified and successful preschool programs in Rockland County, we do not meet the needs of all the children of the preschool age. As CPSE chair, I am able to provide special education needs to many children that require it. However, there is great variability between the programs that we recommend students attend. Consistent high-quality preschool programs would be beneficial to ALL students involved, not just the special needs children. In conclusion, it is a well-documented fact that preschool literacy education benefits all children involved. The need lies in our ability to establish high-caliber programs that are consistent, with staff that is well trained and caring. I think if we can distribute the information about the long-term effects researched and prove to the masses (school boards! ) that the bottom line would be cost savings to the community, we might see some change. I look forward to that day! References 1. Schweinhart, L. J. Lasting Benefits of Preschool Programs ERIC Digest. ericdigests. org. Retrieved February 25, 2008, from http://www. ericdigests. org/1994/lasting. htm 2. Dougherty, C. , et al. Improving Early Literacy of Preschool Children – a Handbook for Prekindergarten Educators. Texas Instruments, 1999. 3. Lee, J. The Benefits of Preschool for High School and Beyond. Council of Chief State School Officers. Retrieved February 25, 2008, from http://www. ccsso. org 4. Roskos, K. A. , Christie, J. F. & Richgels, D. J. The Essentials of Early Literacy Instruction. National Association for the Education of Young Children. Retrieved February 23, 2008, from www. naeyc. org/resources/journal 5. Mangione, P. L. (2005). Creating Language and Literacy Experiences for Infants and Toddlers. PITC Graduate Conference. Berkeley, CA. 6. Johnson, D. & Sulzby, E. Critical Issue: Addressing the Literacy Needs of Emergent and Early Readers. North Central Regional Educational Library. Retrieved January 21, 2008, from http://www. ncrel. org/sdrs/areas/issues/content/cntareas/reading/li100. htm 7. Barnett, W. (2006, Jan. 10). Research on the Benefits of Preschool Education: Securing High Returns from Preschool for All Children. New York, NY. 8. Brain Wonders. Early Literacy (2003). Zero To Three. Retrieved January 24, 2008, from www. zerotothree. org/BrainWonders

How tone is created in the story Of Clay are we created Essay

Tone is the attitude the author shows towards the story. And of Clay Are We Made written by Isabel Allende is a story where the author focuses on tone through setting, characterization, conflict, theme, special techniques, and diction. Where the price of human life is nothing, and the leaders are more concerned with other problems. The story takes place in Columbia, South America. For the author talks about the natural disaster taking place, and killing many leading it to create a sad tone. â€Å"In that vast cemetery where the odor of death was already attracting vultures from far away, and where the weeping of orphans and wails of the injured filled the air. †(Page 586) Hence making it obvious that the author is sad. The characters in this story are the Narrator, Rolf Carle, and Azucena. â€Å"The girl could not move, she could barely move, but she did not seem desperate, as if an ancestral resignation allowed her to accept her fate. †(Page 589) Azucena is stuck in the mud for she is pulled downwards by the corpses of her brothers and sisters, creating a sympathetic tone. Isabel clearly creates an admiring tone, when the narrator admires Rolf Carle for staying with Azucena and tries to help her. â€Å"Azucena and Rolf were by my side; I knew everything my love did to wrest the girl from her prison and help her endure her suffering. †(Page592) Therefore, the author creates an admiring and sympathetic tone through characterization. There is a conflict between Rolf and himself, when he understands that he can no longer run away from his past. â€Å"It was impossible for Rolf to flee from himself any longer, and the visceral terror he had lived as a boy suddenly invaded him. †(Page 593) Furthermore the internal conflict that takes place in the story builds up a thoughtful tone. The Theme in this short story is about the objectivity of reporting which creates a sympathetic tone. Emphasizing on the fact that even the reporter that is considered objective has feelings, and might be affected by the events and tragedies he or she sees. â€Å"Camera had a strange effect on him, I came to realize that this fictive distance seemed to protect him from his own emotions†¦your cameras lie forgotten in a closet†(page 588) In this excerpt the narrator is describing Rolf Carle, and states that when he was on air he was a different person. The camera had a strange effect on him, but later on after Azucena’s death he seemed to change and could no longer hide his emotions. The author uses special techniques in this story to build up tone. Isabelle foreshadows Azucena’s death and creates a sad tone. â€Å"A doctor stated that she had fever but added there was little he could do: antibiotics were being reserved for cases of gangrene. † (Page 592) Isabelle’s choice of words referred to as diction; is direct and filled with the narrator’s feelings. The author Isabelle Allende creates a sympathetic, admiring, sad tone through setting, characterization, conflict, theme, foreshadowing and diction. A natural disaster kills thousands of people; an objective reporter faces himself after meeting a young girl.

Racism in South Africa

It is easy for people to shut their eyes to things they do not witness, like bigotry, racism, and the cruelty of South Africa. According to Blob Kiwanis â€Å"It has been nearly a decade and a half after the end of apartheid† and South Africans are finally realizing there Is a problem with racism (Swank, 2008). This realization occurred after white students from the university of the Free State, made a racist video. This video showed the students degrading and humiliating four black workers. The racism portrayed by these students was said to be deep-seated.These students even went so far as to allegedly, urinate in the four lack workers food (Kiwanis, 2008). In 1994 a man was fed up with his black worker, so the black man was fed to the lions (Kiwanis, 2008). This type of cruelty is not as common as it once was, but any act such as this should not be allowed to take place in the free world. Imagine living every day in fear, never knowing what the day is going to be like. What about tomorrow? This behavior is something most people never have to experience in their lifetime, but what about those that get to witness these events first hand?The violence and hatred that has caused a country to live In ear, was said to be a symptom of globalization, by a country that calls Itself a â€Å"Rainbow Nation†, yet was not supposedly about racism at all (Perry, 2008). 3 It became apparent in 2008, when 42 black people were killed. These people were raped, neaten, eroded, Ana Turned alive. I Nils type AT loathing NAS lave a country (Perry, 2008). These types of incidents have diminished over time, but are still evident in the culture. The cultures in South Africa are many and most are still high in the masculine beliefs. Ethnicity is the differences in culture and is diverse in SouthAfrica. The many different tribes and people have similar yet different beliefs. Race refers to the social construction on the difference of skin color, or nationalities (South Afri ca and its Culture, 2011). Polygamy is still carried out and a dowry is still permitted in most of South Africans cultures. Cattle are a sign of wealth and also used as a symbol for sacrifice. The Zulu is one of the strongest surviving black culture in South Africa (South Africa and its Culture, 2011). Xhosa are also a strong presence in the South African culture, and are referred to as the red people.The red people are called this because the red dye they use on their clothing, worn by most adults. The Indelible are related to the Red people, but live in the North-western corner of what now is called Mulligan, in vibrant painted homes (South Africa and its Culture, 2011). Then there are the Dutch settlers along with the British, these people are known as Afrikaners, and are the majority of the South African population (South Africa and its Culture, 2011). Surprisingly there is a large Jewish population that resides in South Africa; no doubt the survivors of Hitler and his brutal re in.Brutality is not the only problem that has affected the people of South Africa. Because of this racism the poverty level has remained a problem. If a company only hires white people to work, how are people of color ever going to rise above poverty? The Jobs available to black people in South Africa are almost non-existent. If there are no Jobs then there is no money to be made. No money means no food, no shelter, and no means to support a family. This is another instance of the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. 4 Are people so blind and callused, as to not care how the actions and the words thrown out will affect others?What about the future of innocent souls to come? Why is one color any better than another? Who gets to decide these types of things? If a person were to close their eyes and solely Judge another based on their personality, or the way they are treated by a person, our world would be a different place to live. Discrimination has kept the people of South Afric a in poverty for way to long, it is time to break the chains of bigotry and learn to live together in a peaceful place. A place where color does not mean you are rejected for a Job, or for housing. A place where everyone is color blind seems ideal, does it not?Education is a factor for the people of South Africa. People are more concerned with finding a Job; instead they are worrying about whether or not they can attend school. And the sad part about that is that in order to get a good Job or even a Job, education would be beneficial. This is one of the excuses for not hiring people with black skin, they are not as educated. This is one way companies get around race (Reuters, 2001). The companies use this as their reason for hiring the white person applying for the Job and not the black person. It is a vicious circle for the people of South Africa.

Analysis of Political Theory Essay

There are two political theories that I combined and will implement if I were to be placed as the highest-ranking official of the country. These are the theories of Immanuel Kant and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. I chose to unite the two theories because both of them, as I was reading through its contents, had the biggest impact on me than all the other theories I researched for. The joined theories would build up my ideal state as a leader of the country so that I may be able to take the people to a better state of life, in my innocent opinion as part of this country’s youth. First, allow me to discuss to you Immanuel Kant’s political philosophy. His approach to politics favored classical republicanism. The doctrine of Rechtsstaat is Kant’s biggest contribution in the philosophy of law and politics. According to this doctrine, the power of the state is limited in order to protect citizens from the arbitrary exercise of power. In a Rechtsstaat, the citizens share legally based civil liberties. It is a constitutional state in which the exercise of governmental power is constrained by law. It is often tied with the Anglo-American rule of law. Now, what is the rule of law? It is a legal maxim that suggests that governmental decisions be made by applying known legal principles. Aristotle one quoted, â€Å"Law should govern†. It implies that every citizen is subject to the law. It stands in contrast to the idea that a ruler is above the law, for example by divine right. Going back to Immanuel Kant’s philosophy, he also supported the separation of powers of the executive, legislative and judicative branches of government. The executive and the judicative are bound by law, while the legislative is bound by constitutional principles. Rechtsstaat also requires transparency  of state acts and the requirement of providing a reason for all state acts. The doctrine also demands for a hierarchy of laws and the requirement of clarity and definiteness. Now, the world has indeed seen the applications and implementations of the Rechtsstaat through Russia’s legal system. The  Russian legal system, born out of transformations in the 19th century under the reforms of Emperor  Alexander II, is based primarily upon the German legal tradition. It was from here that Russia borrowed a doctrine of  Rechtsstaat, which literally translates as  legal state. The concept of â€Å"legal state† is a fundamental (but undefined) principle that appears in the very first dispositive provision of Russia’s  post-Communist constitution: â€Å"The Russian Federation – Russia – constitutes a democratic federative legal state with a republican form of governance. † Similarly, the very first dispositive provision of Ukraine’s Constitution declares: â€Å"Ukraine is a sovereign and independent, democratic, social, legal state. † The effort to give meaning to the expression â€Å"legal state† is anything but theoretical. Valery Zorkin, President of the Constitutional Court of Russia, wrote in 2003: Becoming a legal state has long been our ultimate goal, and we have certainly made serious progress in this direction over the past several years. However, no one can say now that we have reached this destination. Such a legal state simply cannot exist without a lawful and just society. Here, as in no other sphere of our life, the state reflects the level of maturity reached by society. Rechtsstaat has also approached Russia’s constitutional economics. The Russian concept of legal state adopted many elements of  constitutional economics. One of the founders of constitutional economics, James M. Buchanan, the 1986 recipient of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Science, argues that, in the framework of constitutional government, any governmental intervention and regulation has been based on three assumptions. First, every failure of the  market economy to function smoothly and perfectly can be corrected by governmental intervention. Second, those holding political office and manning the bureaucracies are altruistic upholders of the  public interest, unconcerned with their own personal economic well-being. And, third, changing the responsibilities of government towards more intervention and control will not profoundly and perversely affect the social and economic order. Some Russian researchers are supporting an idea that, in the 21st century, the concept of the legal state has become not only a legal but also an economic concept – at least for Russia and many other transitional and developing countries. Let us now move on to Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s political theory. His most important work is The Social Contract, which outlines the basis for a legitimate political order within a framework of classical republican. The treatise begins with the dramatic opening lines, â€Å"Man was born free, and he is everywhere in chains. Those who think themselves the masters of others are indeed greater slaves than they. † Rousseau claimed that the state of nature was a primitive condition without law or morality, which human beings left for the benefits and necessity of cooperation. As society developed, division of labor and private property required the human race to adopt institutions of law. In the degenerate phase of society, man is prone to be in frequent competition with his fellow men while also becoming increasingly dependent on them. This double pressure threatens both his survival and his freedom. According to Rousseau, by joining together into civil society through the social contract and abandoning their claims of natural right, individuals can both preserve themselves and remain free. This is because submission to the authority of the  general will  of the people as a whole guarantees individuals against being subordinated to the wills of others and also ensures that they obey themselves because they are, collectively, the authors of the law. Although Rousseau argues that  sovereignty  (or the power to make the laws) should be in the hands of the people, he also makes a sharp distinction between the sovereign and the  government. The government is composed of magistrates, charged with implementing and enforcing the general will. The â€Å"sovereign† is the rule of law, ideally decided on by  direct democracy  in an assembly. Under a monarchy, however, the real sovereign is still the law. Rousseau was opposed to the idea that the people should exercise sovereignty via a  representative assembly. France could not meet Rousseau’s criterion of an ideal state because it was too big. Much subsequent controversy about Rousseau’s work has hinged on disagreements concerning his claims that citizens constrained to obey the general will are thereby rendered free: The notion of the general will is wholly central to Rousseau’s theory of political legitimacy. †¦ It is, however, an unfortunately obscure and controversial notion. Some commentators see it as no more than the dictatorship of the proletariat or the tyranny of the urban poor (such as may perhaps be seen in the French Revolution). Such was not Rousseau’s meaning. This is clear from the  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Discourse on Political Economy†, where Rousseau emphasizes that the general will exists to protect individuals against the mass, not to require them to be sacrificed to it. He is, of course, sharply aware that men have selfish and sectional interests which will lead them to try to oppress others. It is for this reason that loyalty to the good of all alike must be a supreme (although not exclusive) commitment by everyone, not only if a truly general will is to be heeded but also if it is to be formulated successfully in the first place†. French revolutionaries read the works of Jean-Jacques Rousseau. This would suggest that his philosophy was one of the proponents that sparked the French Revolution among the commoners. In brief, Rousseau believed in the natural goodness of man; that humans were corrupted by the greed and competition of civilization. He believed in a social utopia, of humans returning to natural harmony, being made free of vices and sharing a natural equality and a general will. These ideas appealed to many people, including some of the people instrumental in the events leading to the French Revolution, such as the oath at the Tennis Court. In a country where a wealthy minority indulged themselves while hundreds of thousands suffered from severe poverty and inflation, people yearned for a basic equality, natural or government ordained. Many felt that if the general will (or the will of the people) was for change, that the current government was expected to make compromises. The First Estate of the French government was against these changes, the Second Estate was to some extent and later cast its lot in with the Third Estate. Later the idea of a utopian government changed to ‘the will of the people’ (although how successful this was carried out can be debated, in both France and the U. S. ) Maximillien Robespierre, who played an important part in the middle to later events in the Revolution and was one of the architects of the Terror, was deeply influenced in his youth by Rousseau’s writings. My report would end at this, since only this stuff is what is asked of us. But if you would ask me, I wouldn’t agree to all things mentioned by the two philosophers. I, of course, would make a few reforms here and there. For example, the abandonment of our natural rights as said in The Social Contract. In the contemporary world, one would want to forget about their natural right for general will. Sure, the idea of general will sounds very convenient, but if you think about it, it’s not worth giving up your natural rights for.

Performance & reword Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Performance & reword - Essay Example The influences could be positive or negative during this journey, but such influences also affect the future course as well and the spirit with which the team members are working decides the future course of the achievements as well. Ans-2: The contemporary job design theories outline a set of functions, components and tasks depending upon the organization settings, based upon the requirements of the organization and the capabilities of the individual. While the meta-process of finalizing minute details helps the organization in attaining the desired heights, it also helps in the individual by way of improving quality of work experience and greater freedom and flexibility (Dolan and Schuler, 1994). Therefore, positive motivations help in a better experience while negative motivations result in adversely impacting the work culture. Motivation in simplest terms can be defined as a means of providing motives. At times, the lack of any positive motivation by the managers often results in an automatic provisioning of negative motivation. How somebody makes use of his/ her efforts towards a goal is determined by the motivating/ de-motivating factors. It is through their behavior that employees give expression to their commitment to work, level of motivation and their attitudes. The performance appraisal and review process helps the management in motivating the performance levels of deserving candidates while providing an opportunity to the one's lagging behind. Organizational goals and objectives can also be achieved if the workforce is able to work with desired levels of motivation. Buyens and De Vos (2001) contend that, "strategic HRM is the linking of the HR function with strategic goals and objectives of the organization in order to improve business performance and develop organizational cultures that foster innovation and flexibility". It is worth mentioning here that the individual feel motivated when they find that their requisite needs are being fulfilled in the process. The Maslow's hierarchy of needs is an important tool to assess the needs of the people in general. Ans-3: Strategic HR management is supposed to align organizational targets with those of the individual and the teams. Mahy et al (2005) contend that a company designs its HR policies to maximize profits, for which the company makes use of job incentives. Such incentives play key role in influencing the attitude of the worker. Thus the incentives turn into profits for the company. If due attention is paid to the periodic feedbacks from the workers, it goes a long way in shaping the policies of the company and provides it an edge in taking on the competitors. For example, Coca Cola the leading icon in a range of beverage products clearly underlines the importance of synchronizing the career requirements of workers with the company's requirements. It states1, "Our Company, your career, together we grow." Considering its people as its greatest asset, the company comes out with a benefit statement which states2, "The Coca-Cola Company values the health and well-being of our employees and provides a variety of market-competitive benefits programs to address employees' benefits needs." It is indeed worth pointing out that company clearly finds a link between maximizing