Assignment on Principles of Management

There are many factors that constitute on how to achieve excellence in management especially in the case of Starbucks under Howard Shultz. Indeed, management is getting things done, through efficient means that would maximize profit while keeping costs down. In order to be competitive and for an organization to be successful in the field of management and to be productive, there are lots of things to be considered.Such aspects are the performance of the leaders or managers of the firm and the performance of the firm as whole, safety measures regarding the management, risks that will come along that the organization are going to face and ways to overcome them, and the influence of consultation (Pollock, 2001). In line with these factors that management of organization must consider are the needs of the organization. These needs can be achieved through the knowledge of the management and technological approaches the management would choose (Barclay, 1997).Dealing with those needs is im portant and constitute to the excellence in management. There are lots of experiments on how to achieve excellence in management was done by Shultz in achieving the status Starbucks have today. Some findings are the need to change strategies, designs that can be used to evaluate the organizations’ success, measures as standard basis, methods and ways to adapt to a complex environment; whether to stay with their current strategies in a constant environment or to change due to the changing environment, and many more (Resources, 2006). A.Ways to Achieving Management Excellence 1. Excellence through Performance Management One design that will constitute on the excellence in management of an organization is through the giving incentives to the individual. This will be dependent on their performance in their field of work. This is called the pay-for-performance system (William K. Redmon, 2005). For the simple reason, the aim for additional income, the individuals’ developmen t can be achieve by doing this. By doing this, the gap in the individuals’ goal and the organizational goal can be lessen or even better, will be gone.In addition, the costs of goods and services are also in its minimal due to the incentive pays that motivates employees. This motivation factors makes employees to become more productive. In fact, some of the companies are now changing their way on how to pay their employees, from normal salary basis and or hourly basis wage systems, to payment based on the employee’s performance (pay-for-performance system). As of this time, organizations are having difficulty recruiting workers. This may be due to the minimum wage salaries that they offer.Because of this reason, the firms and other organizations are thinking of ways on how to attract new workers and to retain the old ones. Other companies have the way of increasing the employee’s salaries, thus making an addition to their expenses and labor costs. In addition to this, performance of these newly hired workers cannot be said to have reached the organization’s needs. Then the need for performance improvement are then on the play. Here comes the study on how to management motivates employees that will become a great use in achieving organizational goal.Organizations have used incentives using incentives such as additional pay depending on the performance of individual employees (Studies, 2004). What others have done is to give those who are in the hard work for the organization’s goal some incentives in the form of not a monetary value but for the recognition of their behaviors. Such examples of non-monetary value incentives are promotions. Most organizations do such things like this for motivating their employees to be more productive. Together with the individual’s aim for promotion, is the organization having greater profit and lessens the costs of services.Other non-monetary value incentives are recognition of the empl oyees, for example, employee of the month award, best employee of the year, and many more. Such behavioral way of motivations is of great help in achieving excellence in management of an organization. Implementation of a goal through goal-setting program can be used by management to evaluate employee’s performances. Feedback program can be added and to this method. Feedback may be of good or bad based on the goal settled by the organization. For employees perception of this settled goal may have different effects depending on the individual.Some responds to the better productivity, while others have done absenteeism. An increase in productivity means the goal settled by the management served as a challenge and thus motivates the employee for better work. On the other hand, this served as constraints for other workers. Feedbacks however are used to chase away criticism but are used for employee’s performance evaluation. That’s for the reason that criticisms are a gents of exploitation that management didn’t want to interfere with the management.What feedback supposed to do is to give an evaluation, whether it may be bad or good, that will serve as a constructive criticism to employees. If the feedback was bad, that doesn’t mean that the employee was bad at all, but to show the deficiency the employee have and to overcome for the employee to overcome this. If the feedback was good, that means that the employees work was recognized and then the tendency of being a more hard working employee will come up to the mind of the employee. This is how behavioral management in an organization plays.II. Management Practices: A. Comparison Let’s take a look at some organizations/companies that won some awards regarding the excellence in management. For the supply chain excellence, the Starbuck’s Coffee chain having the strategy model of high-speed build-to-order delivery services has been recognized. The Starbuck’s Coff ee won one of the dealings on the supply chain excellence; speed. To measure the excellence in management of the Starbuck’s Coffee, a checklist was made with all the criteria of being excellent in management as the standard basis.

The Courtesans of Bollywood

The media – whether in print, television, or the cinema – has portrayed women in all sorts of images. These images reflect how a certain society perceive women and what roles do they portray in reality. Women in Indian cinema have been variously depicted with different images which represent the division within the Indian society. Just like in any parts of the world, the classification between men and women has been distinct throughout history. Even in modern time, such classifications which further divide both sexes still exist in media because of the stereotypes that have been established.The Indian film industry, famously called as Bollywood, has effectively created films which encompassed the different faces of women in their nation. There are films that attributed them with Hindu goddesses and as well as portraying them as traditional and modern women from all division of the caste. The films that are made depicting women reflected India’s thoughts and behav ior towards sexuality and social norms. The media – despite of its tendency for exaggeration and sensationalism – draws its inspiration from real life’s circumstances, no matter how fictitious the story becomes.No matter how the characters of women are formed, their roles in the film say a lot about the current social perception of Indian Women. Two notable films in Bollywood will be the central discussion of this essay. Pakeezah (1972) and Devdas (2002) became well-known for the romantic plots amidst the struggles within social taboos combined with cinematic intensity and songs aptly made for the film. From these films, the heroines that will be given concentration belong to that level of society which is usually judged derogatively.Sahibjaan of Pakeezah and Chandramukhi from Devdas share the same profession of courtesans, and played major roles in the films showing how Indian courtesans are being personified. The discussion for the two female protagonists will revolve around their being courtesans and they symbolized India’s perception and direction of their views regarding sexuality and how their norms and social evolvement are shaped by these views. Courtesans, as seen from the films, cater to the public eye, predominantly of male audience. Their profession has been criticized by society as immoral and these women are usually isolated from the realm of an ideal woman.By exploring the two films, it will be argued how the views of courtesans are still relevant in the modern Indian society. To be able to convey the contents of the arguments for the established thesis statement, a brief background or summary of each movie will be provided. This is for the intent of giving a foundation or an origin where the standpoints will be derived. Second, there will be an attempt to categorize Indian courtesans which is distinct from courtesans of other countries. This will be connected to how the character of a courtesan became an embodiment o f India’s assumption towards sexuality.From this, Sahibjaan and Chandramukhi from the films will be subjected to analysis, comparing the differences of their roles as courtesans on the films. The essay will be concluded by gathering all the insights that have been discussed and as well as its implications on Indian society. The plot of both films is set in the conservative India where traditional elements are highly emphasized. One of the two films has been derived from a 1917 novella called Devdas. This film has many versions in different languages and the one directed by Sanjay Bhansali in 2002, is the latest and the first full colored version of the film.Devdas can be said as a classic love triangle story with the lives of the main characters closely intertwined with each other. The male protagonist Devdas came back from London to reconcile with his long-time childhood beloved Paro. The two has been arranged for marriage however, when the Paro’s maternal ancestry as dancers is revealed, her humiliated mother decided to arrange a marriage for Paro to another man. From that aspect the tragedy of the heart-broken Devdas ensues, as his college friend introduced him to the world of alcohol and carnal desires.The brothel where his friend brought him became his emotional solace or more of an emotional escapism. As Devdas began to indulge in alcoholism, he met the most famous courtesan named Chandramukhi. Her beauty and exquisite charm which made Chandramukhi as a renowned courtesan became an irresistible pull for Devdas to become close to her. On the other hand, his vulnerabilities as a man shown by his weakened state by the alcohol and the discovery of his supposed love story became the reason why Chandramukhi fell in love with him.The story takes its turn with Devdas being devoured by his alcoholic addiction and Chandramukhi’s love for him brought her to Paro to convince him to stop his self-destruction and subsequently formed a friendship w ith her. Though he did not listen, Devdas promised to see her before his death. Eventually, he confessed his love for Chandramukhi however shortly after that; he expressed his goodbye to her because of his intent to move out of the country. On his journey and with the last drink of wine, he became extremely sick. Feeling himself on the verge of death, he went to fulfill his promise to Paro to see her.Paro ran to meet him but her husband prohibited her and as Devdas dies in front of their gates, his last image is Paro trying to reach for him and screaming his name. It is a clear tragic story for the three characters as all of them are not able to achieve the happiness they wanted out of love. The dynamism of the story is presented by the diverse social upbringing of the characters. Devdas is born from the upper landowning class, while Paro came from an ordinary family whose lineage is from dancers, and Chandramukhi being a courtesan is judged by the society as immoral.The three main characters attempted to go beyond their social status as the purpose of love became their main source of strength to defy the social norms. The second film which similarly tackled defying social classifications in the name of love is, Pakeezah. Released in 1972, this film took 14 years to be completed due to personal issues between the main cast and the director. An original work of Kamal Amrohi, Pakeezah is a classic Indian courtesan movie. This film is a story about a woman who dreams of escaping a world where she felt worthless and soulless.Sahibjaan shared the same fate that her mother did, a profession which eventually led to the rejection of her father’s family. After her mother’s death, her aunt Nawabjaan adopted her and brought Sahibjaan to her brothel where she practiced dancing and singing. She became famous as a courtesan when she grew up, however, her aunt felt the need to get Sahibjaan out of the brothel when her father came searching for her. On the train ride out of the city Sahibjaan found a note that has been slipped between her toes where a stranger wrote about the beauty of her feet and not to soil it.This note became her hope to find rescue from the environment she desperately wants to escape. It also became her only evidence that this particular stranger is the only one who can love her truly and the note is her first real communication with someone who has a pure intention towards her. She was able to meet the stranger who is a forest ranger named Salim, and because of her fear that he might reject her, Sahibjaan kept her true identity. Salim brought her to his family however as men recognized Sahibjaan as the courtesan, Salim’s family disapproved.Despite of Sahibjaan’s confession about her work, Salim’s feelings did not change and both of them ran away together. He eventually decided to marry her, renaming Sahibjaan as Pakeezah meaning ‘the pure one. ’ However, her shame and fear as being a courtesan dominated her, and not wanting to ruin Salim’s reputation Sahibjaan fled from him and called off the marriage. Her decision has left Salim hurting and as a way of retaliation and coping with the pain, Salim decided to marry another woman and invited Sahibjaan for his wedding. In this part of the film, she danced on broken glasses practically symbolizing the pain that both of them share.A revelation has been made when Salim’s uncle, Shahabuddin, learns that Sahibjaan is his long-lost daughter and it resulted to a happy-ending for Sahibjaan, knowing that her father will save her from the world she wanted to get away from, and as well as a possibility for her love for Salim to be reconsidered. Just like the film Devdas, Pakeezah tells about a romantic story of a courtesan with a heart. Someone like Sahibjaan does not desire to be a courtesan forever and wanted to become a real woman by meeting her future husband and be a wife.There is also the familiar pattern of the characters disregarding their social status to be able to experience a relationship with one another. It leaves the impression of Indian movies such as these that the division of the caste system in reality is strictly followed. Pakeezah and Devdas are two classic Bollywood films which portrays the kind of women often degraded by the society. These films presented the courtesans with such humanity which goes beyond their profession of enticing and engaging their audience towards them.Courtesans can be said to have prominently existed way before the times of the monarchy. Indian courtesans are said to be â€Å"sexually liberated and educated women who dance in the temples and at public ceremonies and the only women who are allowed to learn to read, sing, and dance† (Feldman & Gordon, 2006, p. 161). Just like other courtesans in general, they are meant to entertain and offer their company to men. Their difference from prostitutes is that sexual intercourse is just one of their services. They engage in discussions, in festivals, and in the arts. Simone de Beauvoir further differentiates the two:Prostitutes need two kinds of men, client and protector. In her environment man is superior to woman, and this setting apart favors a kind of love-religion which explains the abnegation of certain prostitutes. For the courtesans, beauty and charm or sex appeal are necessary but not enough, she must be recognize as a person. Her pride, her independence, and her money mean that she will never be ‘taken’ – no man will be her absoluter master. † (cited in Kazmi, 1994, p. 237) From the two films, as courtesans their bodies became the attraction to be able to play the part.The dances and mujras by Sahibjaan and Chandramukhi are utilized to emphasize their body part and allure to entice men. As in Indian cinema, women are placed in the cast for the purpose of having something ‘pleasurable in the eyes’ on the screen. â€Å"In t heir traditional exhibitionist role, women are simultaneously looked at and displayed with their appearance coded for strong visual and erotic impact so that they can be said to connote to-be-looked-at-ness† (Kazmi , 1994, p. 234). Since their roles are courtesans, they are always under the scrutiny of their male clients.Their publicized sexuality makes them a property of the society. However, from the films, it can be seen that the courtesans fell in love with the male protagonists both coming from noble families. This love makes them as the hero’s property, thus, losing their â€Å"generalized sexuality and showgirl connotations† and their erotic charms are for the male protagonists alone (Kazmi, 1994, p. 234). That sense of property has not been made official since Sahibjaan and Chandramukhi are not seen married under traditional ceremonies.This gives the impression that India may not view courtesans as an ideal wife, no matter how the circumstances of falling in love may occur. In Devdas, Chandramukhi is seen as a feisty woman who holds her dignity as a courtesan. Despite of the numerous males gawking at her performance and by the harsh judgments which society throws at her, she never did want to become someone else or want anything other than Devdas. She has a strong image of a courtesan portrayed in the film. Chandramukhi can be classified as the classic courtesan who has lived by her destiny to please the public, though she is condemned by it.By the time that she became too attached with Devdas, her duty of pleasing many people has been devoted to please Devdas so he could ease his sufferings. Chandramukhi’s sacrifice of letting Devdas go symbolized her gratitude for him the moment he confessed that he loves her as well. Because that love is rarely given to a courtesan like her and the fact Devdas see her as a normal woman worthy of it, she devoted her life taking care of him and letting go of him in the end even if it entails her happiness (Nair, 2002, p. 86). On the other hand, Sahibjaan is portrayed as a courtesan struggling for an escape from the world she grew up with.Unlike Chandramukhi, Sahibjaan is a courtesan who wished to change her life and get out of her profession. However, the history of her mother’s life haunts her, encapsulating her in fear that she might never achieve the normal life that she wanted. A courtesan who pleases out of duty, the film focused on making her worthy of marriage. The scene where Salim renamed her as Pakeezah provided her the status that she is still worthy of being a wife despite of being a courtesan. She can be said as someone who subsequently gives in to the cruel prejudices of society.By refusing Salim’s offer of marriage, Sahibjaan continues to be a possession of the public, denying herself the happiness that she wanted to be rescued by the one man she loves. Nonetheless, both women have exuded strength when it comes to making choices. Though the y have been portrayed as weak for love and for rescue, they have made decisions which in their knowledge can deprive them of the happiness that they want. In society, since courtesans are made to please the world, sacrificing their own personal interests is a part of their duty.Thus, their role as a public commodity strips them off the right to be part of the private sphere, which includes the family. The courtesans of Indian cinema maybe considered as the origin of independent women in Indian society. A courtesan is said to have â€Å"the courage to confront society, established morality, and the powers that be† (Kazmi, 1994, p. 231). That the courtesans in these films are the early embodiments of empowering women’s sexuality when it comes to breaking social norms, since in the conservative Indian nation courtesans or good women alike, are considered marginalized.Courtesans can be viewed as the mortal goddesses of the Indian society who can personify evil and goodness in how sexuality is perceived. References Feldman, M. , & Gordon, B. (2006). The Courtesan’s Art. New York: Oxford University Press. Kazmi, F. (1994). Muslim Socials and the Female Protagonist: Seeing a Dominant Discourse at Work. In Forging Identities: Gender, Communities, and the State, (pp. 226-243). Zoya, H. (Ed. ). New Delhi: Kali for Women. Nair, P. K. (2002). â€Å"The Devdas Syndrome in Indian Cinema. † Cinemaya 56/57, Autumn/Winter : 827.

The “New World” Explorer

A common instrument of writers is to explore a terrain or new culture through the eyes of a stranger.  Ã‚   A stranger would seek to explore and discover all the facets and aspects of his new environment.  Ã‚   On the other hand, to introduce the world through the eyes of a resident becomes dull in time as the resident, having been familiar with most of the workings of his world, would leave much of it that is not within his immediate vicinity unmentioned or unsaid. In both the stories Benito Cereno and Daisy Miller, the protagonist is an American.  Ã‚   He also has had some familiarity of his environment, but not enough not to make him less of a stranger. This identity is beneficial, as the United States is psychologically set apart from the traditions of Old Europe, and even that of Spanish America.   The protagonists suddenly become pioneers, in their attempts to discover more of their immediate strange and unfamiliar territory.  Ã‚   This â€Å"New World† effect is more enhanced as outside of the limited perspective of the protagonist, the author carefully and quietly arranges appropriate symbolisms of object, expression and style to give a subtle reference to the traditions, American for Henry Melville, and European for Henry James. The immediately recognizable symbolism seen by the protagonists in Benito Cereno and Daisy Miller is represented through the symbolism of object.  Ã‚   These are embodied in concrete landmarks that have deeper context in their respective traditions.  Ã‚   In 19th century America, in Benito Cereno the landmark was the ship of the Spaniard, the San Dominick.  Ã‚   The ship embodies the restless, pioneering spirit, which first brought Europe in contact with the Indians of the Americas; it later becomes the lifeblood of the European colonizers, particularly the Spanish, in the form of the Galleon Trade and the Slave Trade.  Ã‚   It is therefore noteworthy that San Dominick represents both institutions in its housing both treasure and African slaves (Melville, 140). Henry James’ Daisy Miller depicts the landmarks as the landscape of the mountains across the Vevey lake, the Chateau de Chillon, and the Colosseum.  Ã‚  Ã‚   The castle represents the hundreds that dot Europe’s country, having been once the social and cultural centers from Medieval times even to the 18th century, when ruling families and aristocrats reigned in lavish palaces and mansions.   The Alpine mountains are a sight common in southern Europe: from Switzerland, Italy, southern Germany and Austria, and is reminiscent of its kin west in the form of the Pyrenees.   The use of French, from terminology to architecture, represents the dominant influence of the French since the Enlightenment, and the imagery of Rome—from cobbled streets to Colosseum likewise symbolize the preservation of Europe’s antiquity throughout its reverting to contemporary times. The fear depicted in both works, meanwhile, are symbols of expressions that, in their descriptions, also indicate the respective mindsets of the peoples of those times: for instance, in the period of Benito Cereno, the threat of piracy was a very real danger encountered by any captain.  Ã‚   The ship was the lifeblood of trade between nations, and in Spain’s case between Empire and colonies. Captain Delano’s spasms of panic at the possibility of the Saint Dominick crew being pirates were understandable. Social etiquette was at the center of the â€Å"gentleman’s world† in European social circles.  Ã‚   The fears were more directed at what harmed this â€Å"social order†: scandal.  Ã‚   Thus, in Daisy Miller, the growing fear in Daisy’s open associations with men of questionable character was that it fomented a scandal among social circles, as behavior that openly defied social norms. Discrimination also plays a substantial role in the fears, which feeds off the protagonists. Captain Delano’s worries are fed by the liberal actions of the Spanish captain towards the various incidences pointing to the African’s seeming â€Å"equality† with the Spaniard—the unpunished abuse by a slave boy towards a Spanish counterpart, the reactions of two slaves upon the brusque action of one Spaniard and the treatment of the African slave-prince Atufal’s defiance (Melville, 166).   Winterbourne’s fears are borne from the disapproving observations of the women of Daisy’s associations, as is described in Daisy Miller, as well as her habit of going out at night with a total stranger—once attempted with Winterbourne, then actually acted on with Giovanelli. The symbolism of structure and style is one that can be discovered after the second and third reading.  Ã‚   It gives the reader an indication of whether, like the American tradition, the narrative is one linear and direct and practical or uses subtle undertones, as is done in European cultures.  Ã‚   In Benito Cereno, the paranoia of Captain Delano grows through different images: the sight of the Ashantee slaves with their hatchets (Melville, 161), the comings and goings of members of the Spanish crew (151, 153), and the hushed conversations of his host and the African aide (153). When the ruse is finally discovered, the resolution is swiftly conveyed through an American expedition (189-192). In contrast, European literal tradition is more reflective and focuses on the varying subtleties of movement and speech.  Ã‚   The resolution, then, is less clear if the layers of meanings of the scenes that preceded it was not easily understood.  Ã‚  Ã‚   It was therefore, in Daisy Miller, through the careful study of the exchange of words between Winterbourne and Daisy in Chateau de Chillon leading to her sudden change in demeanor, her unforgiving chidings of Winterbourne in Rome of his final words to her in Vevey, and the confrontation between them in the Colosseum, could the tragic final scenes be clearly understood. Works Cited References Melville, Herman.   Billy Budd, Sailor and Other Stories.   New York: Bantam Books, 1984. Electronic Sources James, Henry.   â€Å"Daisy Miller†.   Daisy Miller by Henry James.   February 2001, Project Gutenberg, 02 May 2002 .

How significantly does a democratic political system impinge on the Essay

How significantly does a democratic political system impinge on the conduct of foreign policy Is such interference desirable - Essay Example However positive implications of the element of democracy in the US foreign policy have been demonstrated by its role in enhancing stability in regions of the world that are under political troubles and the use of democracy as a tool of promoting prosperity within the developing nations. This essay gives a critical analysis and argument on the significance and role of democratic ideas on foreign policy with a special focus on the US foreign policy. The essay aims at arguing that the interference of a democratic system on the foreign policy is desirable. Bouchet (2011, p. 572) says that the significance of a democratic political system in shaping the foreign policy is demonstrated by the US foreign policy whose key priority is to spread democracy to other parts of the world. However some schools of thought argue that democracy as defined within the US foreign policy is just one of the strategic objectives that the US designs to impart influence on other nations of the worlds especiall y within the Asian societies and the developing world (Berger, 2011, p. 38). The issue of democracy is important in the US foreign policy as illustrated by speeches of presidential candidates and the discussions of Members of the Congress who define democracy within the foreign policy of the US. Regardless of this, it is argued that what matters is the where, when and how in the application of foreign policy in regard to the principles of democracy which matters the most (Miller, 2005, p. 174). There are however notable difficulties which are faced by the democratization processes within the US foreign policy whose significance is illustrated by the fact that political leaders have employed costly measures of overcoming these challenges (Clarke, 2000, p. 103). Hassan and Ralph (2011, p. 513) point out that during the First World War; the participation of the US was aimed at making world regions and economies safe enough for exercising democratic political systems, values and princip les. Since this war, the US administration has focused energies at ensuring that democracy was promoted in the different political systems of the world. For example presidents Reagan, Bush, Clinton and Obama have demonstrated that the most valuable component of the US foreign policy is the need to promote democracy (Guerlain, 2011, p. 372). The Bush administration demonstrated the impact of democracy on foreign policy by using it as a tool for the promotion of peace and curbing terrorism. In the speeches of Bush, war on terror and democratization was the central component in the description of the US foreign policy (Berger, 2011, p. 47). The significance of democratic political systems in designing foreign policy was demonstrated by the Secretary of State during the Bush Administration, Dr. Condoleezza Rice. The Secretary of State came up with a diplomacy plan in early January, 2006 which was aimed at bringing political transformation by working with political partners to build demo cratic states and sustain democratic political systems (Bouchet, 2011, p. 577). Emphatically, Rice’s plan was restated in October, 2006 within the State Department. In this sense, democratic political systems are viewed to have a significant impact on the design and implementation of foreign p

Outsourcing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Outsourcing - Essay Example In addition, rapid changes in technological advancements force the healthcare organizations pace with the latest changes. Outsourcing is a better way to minimize risk factors in terms of technology evaluation and result accuracy. Many healthcare professionals believe that the outsourcing approach in the healthcare sector would deliver quality services to beneficiaries and thereby improve patient safety. This paper will discuss several aspects of the outsourcing practice in healthcare industry and suggest best practices that can make outsourcing effort successful. Prevalence and Trends The practice of outsourcing is extremely prevalent in the healthcare industry and admittedly, this trend is growing dramatically. US healthcare system is the most expensive in the world. As Pear (2004) reports, the US’ healthcare spending accounts for nearly 15% of its GDP whereas most other developed nations spend only 7-10% of their GDP in healthcare. The increased healthcare expenditure forces the country to adopt low cost and efficient options like outsourcing in order to cut down its spending. An aging population in the US not only increases the demand for healthcare but also leads to a paucity of available experts. In addition, the medical transcription (MT) industry has undergone tremendous changes over the past few years. As a result, the scope of MT jobs has increased and MT professional are expected to undertake additional tasks such as editing, checking, and supervision in the near future. Therefore, the US healthcare organizations increasingly and extensively follow the outsourcing approach so as to reduce healthcare expenses and to deliver better services to clients. Today, it is widely seen that healthcare firms outsource their administrative processes that require high degree of expertise and huge resources. By practicing this approach, healthcare organizations can focus more on service quality and patient safety. The services such as billing, coding, staffin g, and information technology are greatly outsourced by hospitals and other healthcare institutions. â€Å"Modern Healthcare’s annual Outsourcing Survey found that the top 20 outsourcing firms, based on the number of national healthcare clients, reported 13.1% growth between 2010 and 2011† (Expertise on call, n. d.). Staff shortage is growing to be an immense challenge in the modern healthcare environment because of a number of socio-economic factors. As staff recruitment is an expensive and time consuming task, today many of the healthcare organizations outsource this task to external agencies (American Healthcare Outsourcing, n. d.). Since this approach would assist the health organizations to enhance staff retention, more and more firms tend to outsource staff recruiting and training activities to outside agencies. Health care technologies and practices are advancing everyday and firms perceive outsourcing as a better way to take advantages of the potential innovati ons and to reduce unproductive work time. It is found that the outsourcing practice is more common in large sized health organizations because those firms need to manage troublesome administrative and operational activities. Successes and Failures While evaluating the experience of healthcare organizations that have tried outsourcing, it seems that majority of those firms could attain competitive advantages while some others failed to achieve the desired benefits. Generally, the

Bank Lending (Loan Propsal) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 1

Bank Lending (Loan Propsal) - Essay Example elocate to the new building--which would save the company an amount of more than $9,000 per month on the rental of premises where they operate from at present—at this time it is not recommended that Lettera Pty Ltd be allowed to have a loan. If the company is afforded a loan, it should be loaned the money with special restrictions. The business for which the loan is being applied is a family printing business. Old Mr Lewis is the director, and he is assisted by the two co-directors of his sons. This business was started five years ago by Mr Lewis, after having a twenty-year stint as a technical supervisor at a competitor printing company. That being said, his technical4 knowledge with regard to printing is superior. He emphasizes quality, and as such all of the machines used by Lettera must be imported from Germany as per Mr Lewis’s predilection. Both of Mr Lewis’s sons became involved with the business’s management5 straightaway after they finished with school. It is Mr Lewis’s hope that the company be inherited by hs sons. The older son was involved with the business since its inception whilst his second son has been involved for the past two years. Actual printing activities are not the business of either of the sons. Rather, they deal with the financial management and general administration ends of the business. In addition, they also take care of marketing6 of Lettera’s services. This division of responsibility does well according to Mr Lewis: According to balance sheets, the business did not do remarkably well in the past, however the company’s position did improve quite a bit within the past year. This can be attributed to the fact that Lettera is the only printing business in the neighborhood where it does business. This is because a major print franchise which was located nearby closed down. Mr Lewis sees the local business as the principal source of business for Lettera’s services. This is seeing as how Lettera has gotten

Screening for novel peptides that block T-type calcium channels Essay

Screening for novel peptides that block T-type calcium channels - Essay Example Effects of Ca2+ are most drastic at G1 phase of the cell cycle, where there is an increased expression of calmodulin and Ca2+-calmodulin-sensitive Cyclin D/CDK4 (Kahl and Means, 2003). However, cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentrations must be regulated such that it is high only when it needs to be, because a vital part of calmodulin-dependent kinase function is in its regulated stimulation. Persistent stimulation can cause modifications in calmodulin sensitiyity, such that a persistent high intracellular Ca2+ will eventually make calmodulin less sensitive to calcium ions (Kahl and Means, 2003). In addition, if neuronal CaM-kinases II are constantly activated, catecholamines cannot serve as neurotransmitters because there is no catecholamine concentration potential that indicates transmitted signal. If glycogen synthesis is constantly inhibited, chemical energy cannot be stored by the body in the form of glycogen (Alberts, et al., 2007 ).One of the major ways through which cytoplasmic Ca2+ con centrations are regulated is through T-type calcium channels. T-type calcium channels are a group of low-voltage activated calcium channels. It has the characteristic six transmembrane alpha helices around a central pore. They open in response to even small membrane depolarization. Just like the enzymes it regulates, T-type calcium channels are also regulated. They are activated by cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA), which is directed to the phosphorylation site by an adapter called A-kinase anchor protein (AKAP). It is also regulated by intracellular Ca2+ concentration through calmodulin. Aside from those, protein kinase C can also activate T-type calcium channels. However, the activity of protein kinase C is counteracted by G-protein coupled receptors (Felix, 2005). Because of the role of intracellular Ca2+ concentration to cell cycle, T-type calcium channels are associated with cell proliferation. Among normally differentiating cells which do not proliferate, expression of

National Programme for Information Technology Essay

National Programme for Information Technology - Essay Example The NPFiT programme is designed to be in ten years and deliver key elements that are concerned with NHS care record service (National patient Record Spine and Local Service Providers), electronic bookings, electronic transmission of prescriptions and underpinning IT infrastructure and network. The implementation of the program will involve new technology and information systems are being implemented in planned phases both at national and local levels. National Application Service Providers are responsible for purchasing and integrating IT systems common to all users nationally whereas locally, this will be provided by Local Service Providers across ten strategic health authorities in England grouped into three regional programmes. Their mandate is to ensure that the local systems that exist or being put into use go hand in hand in meeting the national standards that will also facilitate the flow of data nationally and locally.This program has key components set up to deliver the new IT systems and services that include the national network providing infrastructure and broadband connections for the NHS to enable patient information to be shared between organisations. Care records service ensures every patient will have his individual record easily accessible to him and health professionals hence reduce administrative and clinical errors. A national central database – referred to as Spine – will is the backbone of the project as it has a summary of patient records and key data. such as NHS numbers, demographic details, drug allergies, medications and significant diagnoses or problems. It will also point

Evaluation of the United States Airline Industry Using Porter's Five Essay

Evaluation of the United States Airline Industry Using Porter's Five Forces Theory - Essay Example The five forces that shape industry competition include rivalry among existing competitors, threat of new entrants, threat of substitute products or services, bargaining power of buyers, and bargaining power of suppliers (Porter, 2004). These forces form the microenvironment, in contrast with the more general concept of macro-environment. They constitute the forces impacting a company, thereby influencing its capability to serve its customers and to ensure profits. The company has to re-assess the marketplace if there is alteration in any of the forces (Aruvian’s R’search, 2011). The Airlines Deregulation Act of 1978 resulted in several years of low profitability in the industry, with lowered airline fares and the entry of several new firms into the market. â€Å"The financial impact on both established and new airlines was enormous† (Desai, Patel & Quach, 2004, p.2). The consequences of deregulation on the airline industry can be understood by studying Porter’s Five Forces and the influence of complements to the industry. Thesis Statement: The purpose of this paper is to examine the United States Airline Industry, and to determine whether it is an attractive industry, based on Porter’s Five Forces model. ... The United States Airline Industry has grown significantly since the end of World War II. In 1945, the leading airlines flew 3.3 billion revenue passenger miles (RPMs). By the mid-1970s, with the development of deregulation, the chief carriers of the industry flew130 billion RPMs. By 1988, following a decade of deregulation, the number of domestic revenue passenger miles had inreased ten-fold (Aruvian’s R’search, 2011). This is reiterated by Desai et al (2004) who state that in the period 1965-1978 the federal government regulated the airline industry by means of enforcing artificial wage increases and artificial price levels. Further, â€Å"from 1980 to 1990 the number of passengers traveling by air increased by approximately 72%† (Desai et al, 2004, p.2). The rapid growth of the United States Airline Industry before 1990 has declined; however air travel continues to be the preferred mode of transportation for most Americans because of its cost effectiveness and time saving features. Contrasting with the significant growth of the previous decade, during the 1990-1998 period the United States airline industry experienced only 36% growth. Additionally, during the post-deregulation era, labour negotiations fuelled several labour strikes. The big airlines have tried to reduce costs, but have been hindered by strong oppostion from labour unions. For example, Unions have battled against interventions attempting to shift unprofitable routes to lesser cost regional jets with lower paid pilots. The large airlines have been caught in traditional fare wars that adversely impact their already poor profit margins, because of facing cut-throat competition especially from low-cost rival airlines. â€Å"The domestic airline industry in

Primary Source on Female Workers of Lowell (1836) Essay

Primary Source on Female Workers of Lowell (1836) - Essay Example However, women had some independence since they had the opportunity to work while the men stayed home and practiced farming. They were able to earn their own income through the jobs they did at the factory, and lived on their own, which gave them a feeling of liberation. This article was written with a purpose of exploring the life of the women who worked at the mills. Examine their living conditions at the boarding houses, where they slept six in a room, which were poorly ventilated (NWHM 1). The author has taken the point of view of bringing out the strong woman despite the challenges they faced. The author talks about the challenges the women went through, and add to it the brave steps they took towards liberating themselves and finally succeeded. The author has made an assumption that if the women of Lowell had not taken that step of fighting for their liberty, then they would have remained in the poor conditions that they were in before (NWHM 1). This argument is true since, before the women of Lowell decided to take the step of fighting for their liberation, their life was like that of a slave. They lived in poor condition, worked for long hours, and were paid little wages. Even, though, they worked, they did not get a fair return for their hard work. Instead of the job, they were doing giving them a feeling of liberation; it made them felt more enslaved (NWHM

Social setting Essay Example for Free

Social setting Essay Discuss the degree to which Suskind has offered a strong image of the social setting in the novel Perfume and estimate the importance of a sense of social context for the novel as a whole. In the novel Perfume Suskind offers the reader a vivid and comprehensive view of 18th century French society during the pre revolutionary period. While the main focus of the plot involves the development of the protagonist, Grenouille, the characters he encounters enable Suskind to present a satirical view of the Age of Reason by revealing the folly of individuals from different levels of French society. The novel may also be viewed as a fable which foreshadows the coming revolution which will tear apart the social hierarchy. As well as offering a satirical critique of society, the strong image of social setting lends credibility to the fantastical elements of the novel. This is achieved through a variety of narrative techniques, including vivid imagery. Suskind employs imagery to highlight the satirical nature of the work. This can be clearly illustrated in the way Suskind sets the scene at the beginning of Perfume: The peasant stank as did the priest, the apprentice as did his masters wife, the whole of the aristocracy stank, even the king himself stank, stank like a rank lion and the queen like an old goat (Suskind p. 4) The parallel structure juxtaposing peasant with priest; apprentice with masters wife suggests that while the social structure of 18th century France was hierarchical and the fact that everyone stank equally badly was actually a kind of leveler. The reference to the hierarchy leads the reader to consider that this social structure will be torn apart by the French Revolution. While the novel is set some 40 years prior to the revolution, the reader is aware that this society is soon to be subject to a bloody revolution in which the distinctions between the social classes will be shaken to their foundations; this description of the smell is an ironic indication while some felt superior to others in this society, in fact everyone was human: everyone stank. Another example of this technique used to draw attention to the satirical aspect of the novel can be found in the orgy scene which may be viewed as an allegorical foreshadowing of the revolution as chaos ensues when hierarchy and propriety are cast aside and people succumb to their baser emotions: they fell down anywhere with a groan and copulated in the most impossible positions and combinations: grand-father with virgin, odd-jobber with lawyers spouse, apprentice with nun, Jesuit with freemasons wife all topsy-turvy, just as opportunity presented. (Suskind p. 247 Suskind again uses parallel structure to emphasize the juxtaposition of individuals from different social classes and ages which the breakdown in the social hierarchy. The narrator takes the same slightly amused tone as he describes the shocking scene for the reader as though delighting in the impropriety. The narrative voice encourages the reader to take an objective view of the proceedings and reflect that this abandonment to sexual desire is triggered by something which they are not aware: the perfume. Another example of the way Suskind highlights the gullibility of human beings is illustrated through the setting described as Grenouille is pursing the scent of the girl from the rue de Marais : And while from every side came the deafening roar of petards exploring and of firecrackers skipping across the cobble-stones, rockets rose in tote sky and painted white lilies against the black firmament. Thronging the bridge and the quays along both banks of the river, a crowd of many thousands accompanied the spectacle and aahs and oohs and bravos, even some long lives although the King had ascended his throne more than 38 years before and the high point of his popularity was long since behind him. Fireworks can do that. P. 39 Suskind satirizes the way human beings can be manipulated by something as simple as fireworks. The scene is quite ironic as the reader is aware that the people who are cheering for the king will be rejoicing as his son, the next king is executed in 30 years. Suskind suggests the simplicity of people through the vocalizations mentioned aahs and oohs. The use of the simple short sentence at the end of this description amplifies the narrators ironic stance. Suskind offers a satirical portrait of the middle class through the character of Baldini. He represents the kind of person who cannot accept the new ideas emerging during the age of reason. Baldini is an old man who seems to be having trouble adjusting to changes in society. On page 58-59, the internal monologue of Baldini suggests his frustration with the world. What was the need for all these new roads being dug up everywhere, and these new bridges? What purpose did they serve? . This shows that Baldini is confused about the new developments in the world. Baldini also has issues with the new scientific discoveries that have been made. The latest is that little animals never before seen are swimming about in a glass of water and the earth is no longer round like it was, but flat on the top and the bottom like a melon- as if it made a damn bit of difference! . This internal monologue illustrates that Baldini doesnt approve of the changes and the new discoveries that have been recently made. He seems to have trouble accepting that things are changing and old theories have been overturned. The church is also presented satirically. This is achieved in Suskinds characterization of father terrier. Father Terrier claims that he is a man of reason, but is part of the church. The church is not based on reason. Suskind mocks Father Terrier because he wouldnt take logic to its natural conclusion. He is also presented comically when he hitches up his cassock. He is also outsmarted by the wet nurse because when she claims that Grenouille is a devil child he says that it is impossible for him to be the devil because he has not been exposed to the outside world. When he decides to smell Grenouille, he realizes that the wet nurse was right and he doesnt actually have a smell. As soon as he realizes this he gets rid of Grenouille. The presentation of the Marquis creates satirical view of the nobility and emerging interest in science. He is described as an enlightened idiot. He believed the theory of the fluidium letale which is totally absurd.

The Crucible Essay Example for Free

The Crucible Essay The title the â€Å"crucible† by Author Miller is a metaphor for the witch trial in Salem that manipulates the impure hearts just as the crucible melts impure metal. The crucible was set in the Puritan society where religion was strict and everything; everyone was either belong to god or the devil. People in the Puritan society used that as a tool to gain power and wealth. Throughout the witch trial, many people with impure hearts were manipulated by the overwhelming power of being connected to god and tried to benefit from it but eventually it led to their own destruction such as Abigail, Thomas Putnam and Paris. On the other hand many people with pure hearts were willing to be hanged than named other people such as Giles Corey and John Proctor. Abigail, Paris and Thomas Putnam hearts were blacken by the power of god but granted by the devil. They accused other of witchcraft in order to benefit from it. Thomas Putnam accused other as witchcraft so he could by off the land while Paris accused other who against him to protect his fame. Unlike Paris and Putnam, Abigail purpose was different. At first she accused other because she was offered a chance to get away with her sin but then she was overwhelm with the new found power ,the power that she never had before, the power that bring her out of the misery life of a Puritan girl who was only a little more than a slave. Abigail’s hatred against Elizabeth filled heart with vengeance which made it vulnerable and easy to be manipulated by the Devil. Giles Corey, an elderly who had many experience in lawsuits. Unfortunately his wife Martha Corey was accused for witchcraft by reading books. Giles Corey tried to safe his wife but he was arrested in a lawsuit against Putnam. The Judge tried to break him in many ways but he refused to name anyone. He was then tortured with a large rock on top of his chest until death but still not a name came out of his mouth except two words â€Å"more weight†. With no stain in the heart, Giles Corey and others who did not name other people to die in their place were like the pure steel that won’t melt under high temperature of the crucible. Difference from Abigail and Giles Corey, John Proctor was neither pure white nor black. He could be considered as a tragic hero, who had been upright for most of his life and the only his only sin was the lust with Abigail. His lust for Abigail Williams led to their affair and created Abigail’s hatred of his wife which sets the entire witch hysteria in motion. John was a dynamic character that changed through the plays. At the beginning he tried to hide his sin to keep his reputation but as things got worse he confessed himself. The judge nearly able to convinced him to name someone else but in the end he did not. He refused to give such false confession because such confession would dishonor his fellow prisoners, who are brave enough to die as testimony to the truth. The witch trial was like a burning flame that feed on the darkness in one heart. The witch trial only happen because people allowed to. If it weren’t for people like Abigail, Paris and Putnam the witch trial would never start and if it weren’t for people like Giles and John the witch trial would never end. Authur Miller used such fine metaphor for the title because the value of a heart can only by judge in such circumstance just as the value of an metal can only be tested by extreme temperature.

The General Crisis In The 17th Century History Essay

The General Crisis In The 17th Century History Essay The period of crisis that happened in Europe in the seventeenth century was one of the toughest in history. After the process of expansion and growth experienced during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, Europe found itself in a deep crisis that lasted nearly a century. A crisis that was characterize by various features, foremost the demographic, because after the late Middle Ages the population had increased steadily; until it stops abruptly in the sixteenth century even to recede in many places. Other reasons that were attributed for causing this crisis included hunger, wars, revolts, politics, plagues and climate changes. Eric Hobsbawn argues that on the big picture, it was economic and social forces that created this mid 17th century crisis. On the other hand, Trevor Roper emphasized that the main causes for this crisis were the religious and political conflict. Although both arguments can be valid and were present in this disaster, I believe that the root causes of this cris is were religious and political differences, which ultimately led Europe to have economic and social conflicts as well. One important example of this crisis is the thirty years war. It was a war that took place in central Europe (especially in Germany) between 1618 and 1648, in which the majority of the great European powers intervened. This war would mark the future if the European continent in the centuries to follow  [1]  . The origin of this war goes back to the Peace of Augsburg, which basically stated that the religion of the ruler of the land will be the religion of the people. This resolved the conflicts between the Catholics and the Protestants for a while, but due to the diverse religions practiced in the German states, it did not solve the underlying religious issues definitively. Just by analyzing the phrases above, we automatically get the sense that it was religious conflicts the root cause of this war. This is confirmed by the event that sparked the war, the revolt in Bohemia. In this revolt, member of the predominantly protestant bohemian legislature threw two catholic government o fficials pot the window, as a sign of protest against the religious policies of the newly elected king, the catholic Ferdinand II  [2]  . However, the Catholics defeated the protestants, and this leads us to another example of religion causing the 30 years war; the intervention of the Danish and then the Swedish. This happened because of the fear of these kingdoms that their sovereignty as protestant lands was threatened by the Catholic success in the war, and also because the declarations of the king Frederick V, where he said that all Europe should be back to Catholic. Nevertheless, at this point the Catholics are still winning the war, and this catches the awareness of Cardinal Richelieu, who was the chief minister of King Louis XII of France. From this point on, this religious war becomes political, because even though he was catholic, France decides to join the war and help the Protestants. The reason for this was simple, balance of power; the French felt that Habsburgs hav e gained too much power and they did not want just one great power to control Europe  [3]  . This war is a great example of how religious and political reasons shaped this European crisis, and how these events led to the economic and social problems that a war brings, in order to fund the war with money and men. After all, this war was ended with the Treaty of Westphalia; which ironically ended up being like the treaty of the peace Augsburg that stated that the religion of the prince is the religion of the people. The political effects of this war were very traumatic as well, first it weakened the power of the empire, and the individual territories of the Germany gained more autonomy even than before the war  [4]  . Another problem that rose during this crisis was the war of the three kingdoms. This is another great example to argue that Trevor Roper was correct in explaining the main cause of the crisis. This war happened after England, Ireland and Scotland became united under the power of only one ruler. This was possible because, since Queen Elizabeth of England had no direct heir to her throne, the next in line was James Stuart, the king of Scotland  [5]  . So what types of problems this created? First, James was a firm believer of the divine right monarchy, which basically means that he was placed there by god and does not have to report to anyone else. This belief did not bring many problems to other nations; however, the fact that England had a parliament created a lot of political tensions in this era. Expanding upon this, the wealth that the members of the parliament had acquired from the agricultural innovation, the expansion of their land and sheep count, increased this problems e ven more, because they now wanted to match their political power with their economic power. The fact of this happening brings us back to our thesis, and shows a religious problem becoming political, which ultimately becomes social. I argue this because the parliament starts to have power from the times of King Henry, when he needed their approval to separate from the Catholic Church (religion). Years after, this backfires to King James, because it gave more authority to the wealthy parliament, and clash with his ideals of divine right and absolutism (Politics). Subsequently, creating a lot tension and confusion among the people of the three kingdoms, whose laws and taxes kept changing as the power of the monarchy and the parliament would fluctuate (Social)  [6]  . To further support our point, we can cite the historian Paul Hazard, who coined the term crisis of the European consciousness to define an ideological crisis that could be found in the intellectual ambient of Europe after the wars of religion  [7]  . This is a valid argument since it is logical to believe that religious conflicts could rupture the emotional stability of a society that is very much influenced by god and religion. The raise and growth of new religions that differed in many matters with ancient Catholicism brought into the map many thinkers that challenged even more the traditional beliefs.   Intellectuals such as Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz, Locke and Newton share a common time, it can even be dated astronomically with the famous Halleys comet of 1680 which allowed Pierre Bayle drafting its Charter, and use this to make fun (in a way) at the Religious superstitions and affirm that knowledge must be constantly proven and updated  [8]  . However, this eventuall y created some social problems, since most of the universities and teaching centers were controlled and had the patronage of the church, being either catholic, like the Jesuits, or protestants. This is another example of how religious conflicts (Trevors argument) happened first and the led to social problems (Hobsbawn argument) Possibly the best example of the religious and political causes of this crisis was the glorious revolution. Going back to the origin of the problem, old King James II was a Catholic that had already irritated the parliament by relaxing the restrictions on the Catholics and allowing them to hold positions in public offices  [9]  . Nevertheless, James was old and next line for the throne was his daughter Mary, a protestant that was married to William of Orange; so the parliament does not really take any action. However, things turn ugly after James II has a son that would mean the continuity of Catholic rule in England, which the parliament would not allow. This caused the glorious revolution, and causes James to escape to France with his son, and William of Orange is invited to be king of England  [10]  . It is interesting to see how the biggest political problem that King James II had was the fact that he was catholic; once again religion. In addition, the fact that the parliament is the one that invites William to be king summarizes the amount of power that he would have, which as we can see, was very limited. He was given many restrictions, such as the obligation to be an Anglican, he was not allowed to have a standing army, he was not allowed to veto a parliament act and there was no arbitrary arrest  [11]  . Based on this, comes a liberal social movement that will support the ideas of the parliament in a way, and moves England even further away from absolutism. A leader of this movement is John Locke. We can see in his Two treatises to the government his idea of the natural right to live, which basically states that we all have a right to liberty and the possession of property. Moreover, if the government does not protect the natural right to live of the people, they can reve l and a demand a ruler who does not violate their rights  [12]  . Trevor and Hobsbawn use the Fronde in France as another example of the general crisis. It begun because of general discontent of the people. His beginnings were based on the economic crisis and increasing the tax burden generated to address the cost of participation of France in the Thirty Years War. Its most direct cause, however, can be found in the means used by the monarchy to raise taxes. With the arrival of the regent the people expected the monarchy to cut rates, but not so: Cardinal Mazarin thought that France could support the war and did not let up the pressure. In addition, the Parliament of Paris tried to limit the power of King Louis XIV and also the nobility felt threatened by the king and wanted more of a voice in the government. All of the causes of the Fronde have political implications to it. Even If it is argued that the raise of the taxes was a social problem, it was a political decision to raise the taxes for war and specially to actually enter the war, with the ideals of balance of power  [13]  . In conclusion, the general crisis was characterized by a series of wars, revolts, decline of population and political and social changes that in many cases could have been avoided if the right precautions would have been taken. However, the fact Europe was undergoing a time political absolutism (at least that is what the rulers intended) and the close relation between church and government, made it impossible to avoid the conflicts. The numerous wars that happened (all for political and religious reasons) aided by plagues and diseases, caused the first decline in the population after the middle ages, therefore creating social and economic problems in the region. This is the reason why I believe that Trevor Roper was right by saying that the root cause of the crisis was political and religious (decisions to go to war, monarchs selected for their religion, etc); which then led to economic and social problem(increase of taxation, price revolution, and decline in population), aggravating even more the situation.

Comparison of Snakecharmer and In the Snake Park :: comparison compare contrast essays

Comparison of Snakecharmer and In the Snake Park  Ã‚  Ã‚      There are many methods available for poets to utilize in creating a desired effect. They may take a number of different approaches to enhance an aspect of their poetry. Both Snakecharmer, by Sylvia Plath and In the Snake Park, by William Plomer show how the poets take advantage of different techniques to illustrate the world of the snake, and draw us into it. Plath using diction and Plomer using imagery, both describe the snake in order to establish a mood for their poems. They then proceed to show the relationships between man and the snake. Plomer applies characterization to achieve this effect, while Plath uses symbolism to do so in a more subtle manner.   Ã‚  Ã‚   Plath's use of diction to emphasize the movement of the snake produces a mood of anxiety by suggesting that something evil is stirring. Alliteration is used to make the sentences flow in the motion of a serpent. This effect is achieved by weaving the words together fluidly. It is especially effective when the snakecharmer 'pipes water green until green waters waver'. The 'sways', 'coilings' and 'writhings' which occur during the formation of his world create a feeling of restlessness. An image is conjured of a twisted mound of snakes that throbs and churns on a wave of 'green' putrid water. At the beginning of the poem, the piper 'begins a snaky sphere with moon-eye, mouth-pipe.' This is repeated at the end when he 'puts up his pipe, and lids his moony eye'. The poem is given a sense of closure. It reels as though a cycle has been completed. This makes the poem swell and flow to mimic the action of the snakes.   Ã‚  Ã‚   Plomer uses imagery to describe the snakes in his poem. This imagery shows a process of change in the snakes as they encounter humans. In the beginning of the poem 'lethargy' lies 'here and there in coils'. This portrays the snakes as languid, peaceful creatures. They are sleeping in the 'white-hot midday' sun. However, the Ringsnake is then said to be pouring 'slowly through an opening like smoke'. Using smoke as a simile is effective in changing the tone of the poem. Smoke moves very ominously, and the snakes are now waking from their peaceful sleep and emerging. Toward the end of the poem, the tone changes again.

A Martyrs Victory In A Spiritual Sense :: essays research papers fc

A Martyr's Victory in a Spiritual Sense Bishop Francis X. Ford was a well educated, enormously gentle man, that was kicked, beaten, insulted, and surrounded by hatred. All this because of one mans beliefs. He was born in Brooklyn in 1892. He was the founder of the Maryknoll Missionaries and was the first bishop of Kwantung, China. He was killed in the late 1950's in China, he was charged with anti-Communist, counterrevolutionary, and espionage activities, his real "crime" was for being a Christian and a foreigner. During his life Bishop Ford illustrated the cardinal virtue of fortitude, which is the ability to overcome fear in order to pursue good; "it is an active sake to overcome evil for the sake of gods kingdom" said Huggard. When he took office in China, the country was already feeling the effects of the massive Japanese advance across Asia. In a short time millions lost there lives and were driven from there homes. Bishop ford refused to leave the war-torn country, even after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor brought the United States into the war. During this time he distinguished himself by the way he cared for war refugees. Chinese paid a terrible price during this war with Japan, but even more costly was a civil war that followed. Bishop Ford exemplified the virtue of fortitude, by not leaving the war-torn country and staying to try to pursue good. During this time of war, many would wonder what was the reason for him to stay in China, and what was his why to live? In the Novel A Mans Search For Meaning, Nietzsche says "he who has a why to live can bear with almost any how". If Ford had left the country during the time of war, there would have probably been no hope for the war refugees that didn't have the option to stay or go. His why to live was not to save himself, but to save others. In the Novel Frankl describes the human person as a meaning maker, who has the last human freedom namely to choose one attitude in a given set of circumstances. In 1950, he moved from his Diocese in Kaying China, to a political prison in Canton 200, miles away. At every stop along the way he was put on public display and humiliated. His attitude during these stops was not to give and let the humiliation make get to him, but to use it as a stepping stone to fight harder, he did the inevitable he used the humiliation to make him better.

The Party from Hell :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  My birthday fell on the 21st of July, but it was only the 18th. My parents were out of town, so this had to be the weekend I threw a huge birthday bash. I made up flyers, 50 of them, and my neighbors didn’t seem to mind too much, so things seemed to be set. I took the 16th and 17th off of work so I could get anything of value safely locked away in secured rooms. I hoped that things would work out well and nothing would go wrong. I made sure that the flyers were only handed out to the people that I actually wanted there, in efforts to keep away the â€Å"trouble makers†.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The day of the party was finally here, and I spent it setting up my very expensive stereo system so that no one could break it. Everything seemed to be in place and the people started rolling in. Things were going great. People were dancing and playing pool and just having a good time. There were a few people over by the snack bar eating their hearts out, and that is where the first signs of trouble caught my eye. I noticed a couple of people sneaking drinks. This was exactly what I had tried to prevent. In my past experience, whenever there was alcohol at a party, bad things happened. I didn’t want to spoil the fun people were having so I decided as long as it was contained to those few people, nothing would go wrong. As the night continued, things only seemed to get better. My friends were there and we were having a great time. No one had complained about the noise, and the drinking had kept itself to those few people, or so I thought.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A couple of hours after I noticed the alcohol, I spotted a crowd around one of the bathrooms. Apparently there was a girl in there, throwing up. As I began to walk over, she pushed through the crowd, completely out of control. I didn’t know how to react; it seemed like anything anyone did just made her more upset. She was screaming that she needed to go outside, so we let her out onto the back porch. I tried to calm her down, along with about five of my other friends, but nothing seemed to work. She began running down the street yelling that we were trying to attack her.

Thorn Queen Chapter Ten

I set out to Dorian with a sense of foreboding, made worse by the fact that I wore a skirt with a slit all the way up to my hip. Both Shaya and Nia had wanted me to go see him in a dress, arguing it befitted my station and would endear me to Dorian. I'd argued that I wouldn't be able to ride in a dress, and this slit thing had been their solution. And like always, I had a handful of guards in tow. Their constant presence still continued to make me feel like a child. In this case, a kind of slutty child. In keeping with the Otherworld's bizarre geography, we passed through another village. My visit was brief, just long enough to see how they were doing. Their situation wasn't too different from Westoria's, though they had a woman who was pretty adept at finding water sources. Her technique, the way she wove magic, was more skilled than mine, though she didn't possess my strength. After observing her, I mimicked what she did and managed to find a spot ripe for well-digging. The dress kept me from getting out there and shoveling along with them, but it didn't matter. I left regarded as a savior yet again. Reaching Dorian's took less time than it had taken to get to Maiwenn's. Unlike that journey, much of our trip today passed primarily through my own land, with no respite in one of the more temperate kingdoms. The heat beat down on us, and I sweated profusely into the violet silk of my dress. I would have given anything for a breeze, anything to stir that stagnant air. My own Tucson was often windy; I didn't get why the Otherworldly version wasn't. My father had been able to control all things connected with storms: water, air, charged particles, temperature, et cetera. So far, I only had a hold of water, but every once in a while I could feel the air with the same senses that could touch and control water. Reaching out now, I had that same experience: I could sense the air. It hummed to me. It called. But when I called back, nothing happened. Over and over I tried, attempting the same technique I used with water, urging it to bend and stir and cool me off. Nothing. I finally gave up when Dorian's castle came into sight. It was stone like mine and somehow managed to be both imposing and graceful. Where once I had been greeted with hostility and suspicion, I was now welcomed with respect and a fair amount of groveling. And, yeah, some wariness too. My guards were led away, and Dorian's servants fell all over me, offering me any refreshment I wanted. I declined. I simply wanted to get these negotiations done with. A servant led me to an opulently decorated chamber and announced me, titles and all. Dorian sat there, casual in a long-sleeved, cream-colored shirt, leaning over a chess board. An old man with a beard that went all the way to the floor sat opposite him. Dorian's green-gold eyes lifted at my name, and he broke out into a dazzling smile. Honestly. The man was too good-looking sometimes, and he knew it. A moment later, Dorian turned a disapproving glance toward his chess partner. â€Å"By the gods, Kasper. Have you no manners at all? The Thorn Queen is here. Show some respect before I have you flogged.† I started to protest as the old man rose. The hunched-over posture he'd held in the chair appeared to be permanent, and it took him forever to actually get up. He managed something that passed for a bow-really, it was hard to tell the difference between that and his normal stance-and gave me a grave â€Å"Your majesty.† And as the old man's back was to the board, Dorian leaned over and moved some of the pieces around. I opened my mouth, more in shock than to make any sort of protest. Dorian raised one finger to his lips in a shushing motion. I swallowed my comments and smiled at Kasper. â€Å"Thank you. Please sit down again.† â€Å"And you, my dear,† said Dorian. â€Å"Come join us.† The servant who'd led me in hastily pulled a velvet-cushioned chair over to the chess table. I thanked him and sat down, crossing my legs out of habit. When I saw half the skirt spill over and reveal nearly the whole length of my leg, I hastily uncrossed them. Dorian saw the leg, of course. He always saw everything. Kasper's eyes, underneath his bushy gray brows, were fixed on the board. He made a play, capturing one of Dorian's pieces. Dorian frowned briefly, then put his smile back on as he turned to me. â€Å"You are radiant as always,† he said. â€Å"That dress is particularly lovely. Kasper, look at her. Do you see the way that shade matches her eyes?† Kasper looked like he wanted to study the board, but he turned to me obediently and gave a quick bob of the head. â€Å"Yes, your majesty. Most becoming.† Dorian quickly swapped a few more pieces and then put on a look of deep pondering when Kasper turned back around. With a sigh, Dorian moved his bishop. â€Å"Not my greatest play, but it'll have to do.† He seized one of Kasper's pieces. The move clearly took Kasper by surprise, not all that astonishing considering the pieces weren't where they'd been the last time he looked. He studied the board for almost a minute and then moved a knight, though it didn't yield a capture. â€Å"Eugenie, you look as though you've been stranded in a desert,† mused Dorian. â€Å"But then, I suppose that's the case, isn't it? Such a shame, all those towns suffering and starving, towns like Songwood.† The old man looked up sharply, eyes wide as he stared at me. â€Å"Songwood?† â€Å"Songwood?† I asked in equal confusion. Dorian covertly moved more pieces. â€Å"I was born in Songwood,† said Kasper. â€Å"People are starving there?† â€Å"Oh, wait,† said Dorian. â€Å"Songwood's in the Willow Land, isn't it? Sorry for the scare. I was thinking it had been part of Aeson's kingdom. I'm sure Songwood's perfectly fine.† He studied the board for a moment and then deftly moved his queen. â€Å"Checkmate.† Kasper gaped. â€Å"That's not†¦Ã¢â‚¬  His eyes roved over the board, no doubt looking for any possible way to counter Dorian's move. â€Å"You can't fight against the queen,† said Dorian glibly. â€Å"Once she's decided to take the king, you might as well give in and enjoy it.† I rolled my eyes. Kasper sighed. â€Å"Excellent game, your majesty.† Dorian gave him a comforting pat as the old man stood up. â€Å"Don't take it so hard. You played pretty decently yourself. Sloppy here and there, but who knows? There's always next time.† Kasper gave another wizened bow and then left us alone. I gave Dorian a censuring look. â€Å"You're a bad man. You should be ashamed of yourself.† â€Å"Hardly,† he said. â€Å"That man's the grand chess champion of seven kingdoms. A little humbling will do him good. And speaking of humbling, shall we get on to our business?† He stood up and extended a hand to me. I didn't take it and simply followed as he walked over to the far side of the room. He sank down onto an ivory satin couch while I chose a velvet loveseat the same color as my dress. I felt adrift in a sea of purple. Dorian produced a stack of parchment from a nearby table. â€Å"There you are. Just sign, and we can get this out of the way.† I flipped through the papers, astonished. I didn't understand most of it. It detailed amounts and shipments of assorted goods, listed interest rates, and laid out some sort of schedule. I gave Dorian an incredulous look. â€Å"What happened to negotiating?† He poured two glasses of white wine from a carafe that sat on the table to his other side. â€Å"Oh, come now. You don't want to actually do that. I don't want to do that. So why waste our time? I assure you, the terms are very, very generous. Probably more generous than you deserve, considering the way you toy with my affections. Your people will be getting a lot of goods on faith for copper that has yet to materialize.† â€Å"Then why did you make me come here?† â€Å"Do you have to ask?† â€Å"No,† I grumbled, signing my name with a quill. A quill. Honestly. â€Å"You're a bad man.† â€Å"I try. Wine?† He gestured to the glass he'd poured for me. I shook my head. â€Å"Wouldn't want you to run out. So, I guess me sitting here is part of the price I pay for my kingdom's food. What do you want to do now?† His eyes held mine over the top of his wineglass. â€Å"I could make up a list of things to do longer than that contract.† Yeah. I'd set myself up for that one. â€Å"Okay, then. What would you like to talk about?† â€Å"You,† he said. â€Å"And why you never come see me.† â€Å"You know why. Because you used me and stuck me with that kingdom.† â€Å"You sure do hold a grudge. Is that a human trait?† â€Å"It's a Eugenie trait.† He smiled. â€Å"Of course. You know, Rurik tried to rape you, yet now you welcome him with open arms.† â€Å"That's not exactly how I'd put it.† â€Å"You know what I mean. How can you forgive him and not me?† I looked down at my lap and played with the dress's fabric. I didn't have a good answer for that. Rurik had really been a total asshole when we'd met, yet now I took him as a normal fixture around my household. Why did I hold such animosity for Dorian? Because things hadn't started as hostile between us, I realized. Sure, I hadn't trusted him initially, but he'd never done me any true harm. I had grown to like him-care about him, even-which made what he'd done hurt that much more. Dorian was the one who'd guided me through claiming the Thorn Land after we'd killed Aeson in a pretty horrific battle. I'd simply followed Dorian's direction, having no clue what I was doing until it was too late. Once I realized what I'd been stuck with, I'd felt like every interaction with Dorian had been one big setup. It had seemed like his endgame the whole time had been to oust Aeson and give me that land so that Dorian could eventually control it. That was why I resented him. Are you sure that's it? a sneaky voice inside me wanted to know. No, there might be more. Even I could admit that to myself. The truth was I'd developed physical and emotional attachments to Dorian, and I didn't want them. I didn't want to be bound to someone like him, someone who was full-blooded gentry-and had the annoying tendency to make me lose control. Slamming up walls of animosity between us was a way to protect myself. â€Å"What are you thinking?† Dorian asked, sparing me from his other question. â€Å"I was wondering if I just blindly signed my name to sexual favors in that contract.† â€Å"Damn,† he said. â€Å"I wish I'd considered that.† From the tone of his voice, I think he meant it. â€Å"Oh, well. Perhaps next time since I'm sure this will be the first of many dealings between our kingdoms.† â€Å"I hope not.† For a moment, he almost looked hurt. â€Å"Is it that painful coming here?† I felt bad. â€Å"No, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that. I mean†¦I hope I don't need any more help. I hope things will just work themselves out in the Thorn Land.† His easy smile returned as he finished off his wine. He reached for my untouched glass. â€Å"Well, according to rumor, things are on the mend, thanks to the omnibenevolent Thorn Queen. Why, I heard the other day that you were out digging ditches and feeding orphans. It's a wonder you have the time for that, what with your hypocritical job of battling your own subjects in the human world.† â€Å"My subjects don't cross into the human world,† I said loftily. Of course, the irony was that might not be true, not if the evidence surrounding those girls was any indication. â€Å"And I never did any of that other stuff. I just found water.† He tsked, eyes sparkling with delight. â€Å"Yes, which is a hundred times more than most monarchs do. You're out with your people, maybe not working beside them exactly, but it's close enough. They think you're some kind of messiah. I guess that sets a good precedent for your son, hmm?† I made a face. â€Å"Don't even go down that road. And anyway, I'm not trying to be a messiah. I'm just trying to help.† â€Å"Good gods,† he said, downing the glass in one gulp. â€Å"The frightening thing is that you're actually serious. Were you helping them before you arrived here today?† â€Å"Er, well, a little. We stopped in a village and helped find some water.† â€Å"I can tell. When you use your magic, it wreaths you like some sort of afterglow. It's very†¦becoming.† Something about the way he spoke and looked at me made me want to cross my arms and legs protectively-until I remembered crossing my legs wouldn't do me any favors. Fucking dress. â€Å"I daresay your control of water is becoming very useful,† he added. â€Å"Too bad you didn't continue your lessons with it.† â€Å"I don't need your help anymore. I've practiced on my own-I've gotten a lot stronger.† â€Å"Hmm. I see. And what about the rest of your inherited powers? Have you been practicing with, say, air?† For half a second, I thought he'd been spying on me. No, that wasn't his style. He'd guessed I would attempt air magic because†¦well, he knew me. And because he was Dorian and canny about such things. â€Å"As a matter of fact, I have,† I said loftily. There. Take that. His lips twitched. â€Å"I see. And have you been successful?† I wasn't fast enough with my answer. He laughed and moved to sit beside me. I tried to scoot over, but there wasn't much room. â€Å"Eugenie, Eugenie. When are you going to stop fighting this-stop fighting me? You're only going to create more trouble down the road if you don't learn to fully harness your abilities.† â€Å"Right,† I said, trying not to notice the apple and cinnamon scent that always surrounded him. Why couldn't I shake this attraction when I found him so annoying half the time? â€Å"It's for my benefit, right? Not because of your desire to rule the Otherworld and see the prophecy fulfilled?† â€Å"Of course it's for those reasons,† he scoffed. One thing you had to love about Dorian was his unflinching honesty. â€Å"But that doesn't mean you can't benefit too. You don't think it'd be useful to control air? You don't think that would aid you in helping those poor suffering souls under your control?† â€Å"Damn it. Don't involve them.† â€Å"They're already involved. Learn to control storms, and there'll never be a drought again.† His voice was low, filled with promise and temptation. I thought about the things I'd seen, the fields gone barren and hungry faces. I shook my head. â€Å"I'm not going to let you teach me again.† â€Å"What if I got you another teacher?† â€Å"What?† I shifted so that we could look at each other eye to eye. â€Å"What do you mean?† â€Å"Exactly what I sound like. As hard as it is to believe, I'm not the only one who knows how to use magic around here. True, I'm the most stunningly attractive and dazzlingly intelligent, but if you're dead set against my help, there are others whom you could benefit from.† I turned away and stared off across the room. The water finder I'd worked with today had certainly been useful. She was actually the first gentry I'd met who had any sort of magic compatible enough to mine to teach me anything. Dorian's magic was actually completely different from my own, but he was skilled enough to still transfer the basic principles. But what if I had someone else to tutor me? Someone more in sync with my powers-who wasn't always trying to get me into bed? No. Self-chastisement instantly arose. Magic was dangerous. It made you crave more of it, and the more I used, the more I embraced my gentry side and lost some of my humanity. Kiyo had advised against it over and over, and I didn't even want to think about what Roland would say. And yet†¦ â€Å"You've actually got someone in mind?† I asked, turning back to Dorian. He nodded. â€Å"She's not an exact fit for your powers-honestly, no one is-but she's close and is an excellent instructor.† She. That was promising. No one who'd want to father a child on me. He seized on my hesitation. â€Å"Eugenie, why resist this? It's obvious you want to learn more, no matter how haughty you pretend to be about dirtying your hands in the affairs of the shining ones. Stop your pandering and accept this as a gift.† â€Å"What do I have to do in return for this gift?† I asked warily. â€Å"Nothing except learn. If you take my tutor back with you to the Thorn Land, I just want you to promise me you'll give her a fair chance.† â€Å"That's it?† â€Å"Yes. You already know all my other motivations for doing this, so there's no trick there. The rest is on you.† True. He had been up-front about his larger designs on me and his megalomania. â€Å"Okay†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Kiyo was going to freak out. â€Å"I'll give her a chance.† â€Å"You promise?† â€Å"I promise.† Somehow, every time I agreed to something with Dorian, I always felt like I was signing my soul away. â€Å"Excellent,† he said. â€Å"We'll make an all-powerful queen out of you yet.† He reached his hand over and smoothed out where some of my dress's fabric had wrinkled up near the slit. His motion actually covered up more of my leg with the skirt, though it did involve his fingers brushing against my skin. For a brief, dangerous instant, I kind of wished he'd move his fingers underneath the dress. Instead, he simply left his hand on my thigh. â€Å"Dorian,† I said warningly. â€Å"Hmm?† I looked pointedly down. He followed my gaze. â€Å"Oh, look at that. It seemed so natural, I hardly noticed,† he said cheerfully, removing the guilty hand. I almost felt†¦disappointed. â€Å"Let me fetch your new teacher since I'm guessing you won't be lured into staying for dinner.† â€Å"You guessed right. You really are dazzlingly intelligent,† I said wryly. He stood up and flashed me a grin. â€Å"And stunningly attractive?† â€Å"Just go get her.† He left the room, and I watched the way his long, lean build moved and how the sunlight streaming through a window turned his hair every shade of red, orange, and gold. Dorian was trouble. Yes, I suspected I really had made a deal with the devil. Particularly when I saw who his instructor was. â€Å"Her?† I exclaimed. I shot up from my chair. Dorian had just entered the room, and standing beside him was Ysabel-the Eugenie-clone strumpet from the party. Her blue eyes widened when she saw me. Apparently I wasn't the only one who had been caught by surprise. â€Å"What is this?† she demanded. â€Å"You said you wanted me to instruct someone.† â€Å"I do,† he said calmly. â€Å"You're going to pack your things and return with the Thorn Queen. You will teach her to use her magic to the best of her ability.† â€Å"No,† she said icily. â€Å"I will not.† His pleasant demeanor dropped. â€Å"Yes, you will. This isn't a request. You're my subject, ergo you follow my commands. And I am commanding you to go with her. Unless you're openly defying me?† I couldn't help a shiver. I'd occasionally seen this hard side of Dorian, and it always unnerved me. It was such an abrupt change from his usual laconic self, the self who bantered and tried to feel me up†¦and I found the change kind of terrifying. â€Å"Dorian,† I said uneasily. â€Å"Don't make her do anything she doesn't want to do.† She glared at me. â€Å"I don't need your assistance here.† â€Å"What she wants is irrelevant,† said Dorian. I was a bit surprised at how casually he was able to order her about and objectify her. I'd assumed whomever he was sleeping with at any given time would be someone he had feelings for. Who knew? Maybe he cared about her a lot but was still able to treat her as a subject. Or maybe he just cared about me more. â€Å"Yeah, well, I don't want her,† I retorted. â€Å"Also irrelevant,† he replied, eyes still fixed on Ysabel. â€Å"You made a promise to give your teacher a fair chance-unless you're going to be human and go back on your word?† â€Å"This isn't quite what I expected!† â€Å"It doesn't matter. You're either going to keep your promise or you won't. And you,† he said to Ysabel, â€Å"are either going to obey or not.† Ysabel's eyes were ablaze with rage, and her breathing was heavy. I had the feeling she wanted to burst forth with a million expletives, but she bit her lip as though physically forcing them back. At last, she swallowed and took a deep breath. When she spoke, her words were to Dorian, but her gaze was on me. I hadn't seen malevolence like that in quite some time-no, wait. That wasn't entirely true. Her look was a lot like the one Volusian often gave me. â€Å"Of course, I will obey, your majesty. With great pleasure.†

Pizza palace’s restaurant Essay

   Backing storage comes in various forms for example compact disks and floppy disks. Backing storage is a portable and convenient way of saving information. To reduce the risk of data loss it is wise to save information on the computers hard drive and make a copy onto a disk or another type of backing storage for insurance purposes. Types of backing storage:   Floppy disks: The most common storage device available, these provide extremely cheap storage and have a capacity of 1. 5 Mb.   Compact Disk (CD-ROM): These have been used for some years as storage devices for computer software. It only accesses information which is already stored on it and is able to store 650 Mb of information.   Zip Drives: A storage device that has become popular over the last few years because it offers the convenience and portability of a floppy disk, combined with a 100 Mb capacity.   CD-R and CD-RW:The difference being that CD-R disks can only have data saved to them once, While CD-RW can be used in the same manner as other storage devices having data saved to them on a re-usable basis.   DVD (digital versatile disc) using the same basic principles as the CD, DVD packs the data more densely and can store 4. 7Gb compared with the CD’s 650Mg, can hold 133 minutes of video, with Dolby surround sound. Data pens: A new storage device that plugs into the computers USP drive. These are small and compact and have a capacity of 80Mb.   Magnetic Tape: Convenient and cheap medium for backing up hard disks onto computers. Mostly used for mainframe computers for storing information for a long duration. Magnetic tapes will not be suitable for a small company like Craven Plc. Data Protection: Craven Plc must comply with the data protection act in order to hold personal information of customers. The data protection act works in two ways. It gives you certain rights. It also says those who record and use personal information must be open about how the information is used and must follow the eight principles for good handling. The eight principles were put in place to make sure that your information is handled properly. They say that data must be: 1. Fairly and lawfully processed. 2. Processed for limited purposes. 3. Adequate, relevant and not excessive. 4. Accurate. 5. Not kept for longer than is necessary. 6. Processed in line with your rights. 7. Secure, and 8. Not transferred to countries without adequate protection. Micro computers: Micro computers include personal computers and laptop computers, they are usually equipped with hard disk, floppy disk drive, between 1 and 32 megabytes of memory, a keyboard and a VDU unit. Microcomputers will be suitable to fulfil the needs of Craven Plc. Mainframe Computers: These are large systems that can hold vast amounts of data. Mainframe computers occupy a whole floor of a fair sized building. These powerful mainframe computers are present in very large companies storing huge amounts of data on to disk. Mainframe computers cost tens of thousands of pounds, therefore they are not suitable for a small business like Craven Plc. File Server: This is a specially configured microcomputer to control the exchange of files between network users. A file server also has more memory and disk storage than normal microcomputers. These classifications of computers are usually based on physical size, speed, processing capabilities, memory size, disc storage, capacities and cost. Direct and Sequential Access: Direct access devices can go directly to the file or record. For example a CD can go directly to track number 10. Sequential access devices have to run through the file sequentially, for instance, if we want track 10 on a cassette, The cassette moves from the beginning from track 1 to 9 until it comes to track 10. 4) Proposed purchases and prices of equipment 2x Sony Intel 2. 6GHZ DVD CDRW Laptop   256Mb RAM, 40Gb Hard Drive DVD/CDRW Drive   15 inch TPT screen i 899 each = i 1798 4x Packard Bell 6111 Intel Pentium 42. 8GHZ processor and 15† TFT monitor   Intel P4 2. 8 GHz processor * 512 Mb RAM   160 GHb Hard Drive i 1199 each =i 4796 4x PacKard Bell 5050 and Xp2600+ PC and 17† CRT monitor   Athlon Xp 2600 & processor   256Mb RAM. 60 Gb hard Drive i 549 each =i 2196 4x Hewlet Packard DJ 9300 A3 Desktop printer i 279 each =i 1116 3x Hewlet Packard scanner i 99 each =i 396 Network- Windows 2000 professional i 3449 Web Designer Approx 3000to4000 Training costs i 2000 Specialist soft ware – Sage Accounts i 2000 Web Train Video Conferencing i 1000 Total cost i 22751 5) Proposed method of change over from manual to the new computerised systems Before the change over can take place an extensive training programme needs to take place. This may take several months to train the current workforce in the correct operating procedures of the new system. To ensure information will not be lost in transition the old manual method needs to be in place for the first 2 months along side the new computerised system. In the unlikely case of system collapse information and data will still be on hand. This change over will inevitably endure a small cost of training and staff development. 6) Procedure to transfer the payroll from the old to the new system Payroll is something Craven Plc cannot afford to get wrong. Therefore manual systems need to be in place for 3-4 months along side the new computerised sage accounts system. This will again ensure against loss of data.