Geotechnical Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Geotechnical - Essay Example Geotechnical engineering uses the geophysical methods in measuring the physical properties on the earth sub surface. These methods have the potential of measuring the anomalies in the properties of soil to identify the position and the presence of minerals (Das and Sobhan, 2013). They involve applying physical methods in measuring the physical traits of rocks and soil thus detecting the physical differences between the rocks that have the hydrocarbons or ore deposits. This paper explores the different types of geophysics method and their use in geotechnical engineering. Electromagnetic induction (EM) involves a method that uses the induction principles in measuring the electrical conductivity of the subsurface. Different from the techniques of conventional resistivity, EM requires no contact in the ground. This eliminates the fast problems of electrical coupling allowing much acquisition of rapid data. Since the EM instruments give an easy and rapid collection of data, the instruments are always used as the tools of reconnaissance used in identifying the greatly detailed anomalies (Nobes, 2000). The induced electromagnetic pulse can be measured using the frequency domain meters and time domain meters. GPR (ground penetrating Radar is utilized in pinpointing the buried objects location and mapping and having stratigraphy mapped out. It gives the shallow subsurface cross-sectional measurements. The method has the ability of locating the nonmetal and metal objects. In many cases, data and profiles are recorded and the result is shown using the real time having the attached display unit of the computer. This results into a fast and easy field interpretation. More data interpretation could be done later (Nobes, 2000). The instruments of GPR have energy beamed into the ground from the antenna in the electromagnetic wave form. An energy position is reflected towards the antenna at the specific subsurface

Crime and Deterrence Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Crime and Deterrence - Essay Example Through evaluation of literature however, it is clear that much of the efforts to put into place stringent policies and adopt sophisticated tactics by police have not been up to the task of deterring crime. This paper therefore intends to answer the question of whether potential offenders are deterred from committing crime by change in policy over man power or sophistication of police tactics. Policies in criminal justice influence people towards engaging in crime and for those that are meant to influence positively, this occurs through either incapacitation or through deterrence. When such a policy is imposed and it makes people who would have committed a crime to change their minds, then the policy would be said to be effective in deterring the crime. In other instances, the criminal justice system may impose policies that would prevent possible crimes through putting potential criminals out of circulation such as through detention and this is called incapacitation (Chalï ¬ n & McCrary, 2013). It must however be appreciated that not all policies that are adopted that become effective over the task and this therefore justifies the objective of this study in analyzing the effectiveness of adopting the policy of increased police manpower and sophistication on tactics by police in deterring crime as seen through literature. Chalï ¬ n and McCrary conducted an evaluation on studies and other literature on criminal deterrence and established that economics have a fundamental effect in influencing the effectiveness of the tools adopted to deter crime. While focusing on such literature over two decades, they established a mixed outcome where very strong evidence of crime responding to police as well as legitimate market opportunities but little evidence was found to ascertain that crime responds to levels of severity in criminal sanctions imposed. The whole essence of deterring

Andrew Carnegies Defense: The Gospel Of Wealth

Andrew Carnegies Defense: The Gospel Of Wealth During the Industrial Revolution, several changes shaped American society. Inventions such as the railroad and electricity contributed to the massive change in American life. A movement from the rural farms to the industrial cities and factory owners desire to maximize profit and minimize cost started the battle between laborers and large capitalist bosses. Throughout this era, daring entrepreneurs such as John Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie, Jay Gould, J.P. Morgan, and the Vanderbilt family helped shape the economy, and became known as the robber barons, because of their ruthless treatment of workers and underhanded business deals. Through their economic and political leverage, they accumulated massive amounts of wealth and had enormous influence. Robber barons utilized their wealth in a variety ways, such as purchasing extravagant mansions or hosting wasteful parties. However in the article Wealth, unlike the other millionaires of the Gilded Age, Andrew Carnegie encouraged fellow cap italists to live humbly and use their excess capital to assist the unfit poor, but only because he felt that the millionaires were most qualified to help. In Wealth, Carnegie argues that the fit and wise rich men of American must be the ones who distribute the wealth because they have the essential skills to do so. He emphasizes that millionaire class, to which he belonged, is very skilled and elevates their status in society with his self-praising writing. For example he says, their talent for organization and management is rare among men and this talent, secures for its possessor enormous rewards, no matter where or under what laws or conditions.  [1]  The rich are again represented as greater than the poor by having superior wisdom, experience, and ability to administer [wealth].  [2]  They are shown to have skills are unique and rare allowing them to do amazing things in all aspects of life-an indomitable group of people who can solve any problem. This resembles the widespread doctrine of social Darwinism, because if a person is fit by being skilled, it is natural that they will succeed and survive. Carnegie wrote that it i s because of their skill that only they must be responsible for the control and distribution of their wealth. While Carnegie elevates the richs image and portrays them as superior beings, he describes the poor as foolish, impudent, and unskilled. Throughout the text, Carnegie argued that it must be the rich classs responsibility to guide the poor, because their class can do for them better than they would or could do for themselves since the poor are, slothful, the drunken, the unworthy.  [3]  Carnegie demonstrates the unfit, foolish, lazy, and ignorant workers and laborers as the foils of the fit, skilled, wise, and hardworking millionaires. According to social Darwinism and Carnegies article, the poor at the bottom of society deserve to be there, because they are unfit and failed take advantages of their situation and earn millions of dollars, like the capitalists. By emphasizing the differences between the rich and poor, Carnegies article illustrates the prevailing belief of social Darwinism. Wealth was published during 1889 an era when public believed in the theory of social Darwinism. This belief stemmed from Charles Darwins theory of evolution and Herbert Spencer and William Graham Sumner used the popular catchwords of Darwinism, struggle for existence and survival of the fittest [and] applied [them] to the life of man in society  [4]  . Indeed Carnegie uses these terms in his article, as he says the law [of competition]à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦insures the survival of the fittest in every department.  [5]  By applying Darwins biological theory to man and society, the fittest or strongest members of society should be at the top and lead society, while the weak, unfit should be on the bottom and allowed to suffer and die out. This is echoed in Carnegies article as the millionaires should have all the control and power of their wealth, while the poor must be changed and learn to be fit or be left to die out. Successful business and entrepreneurs apparently accepted almost by instinct the Darwinian terminology which seemed to portray the conditions of their existence.  [6]  For example, as a child Carnegie had to support his family and by taking advantage of the situations provided to him. By doing so, he was able to own the biggest and most successful steel industry. In his article, a businessmans success and money are rewards of being fit, while the poors lack of money is a symbol of their failure in society. By presenting the rich and poor as skilled and unskilled, wise and foolish, Carnegie is able to justify that the rich were the only ones who were knowledgeable enough to share and keep their wealth. Carnegie arrogantly says that, this wealth, passing through the hands of the few, can be made much more potent force for the elevation of our race than if distributed in small sums to the people themselves.  [7]  The few or the rich should must have the money, because they will be able to properly distribute it to the poor. If the people themselves obtained this money, they would not have as grand a result as the millionaires. In his article, Carnegie needed to defend their immense accumulation of wealth, before explaining the more efficient methods of helping the poor. During this era, there was a huge economic gap between the rich and poor. In 1890, 73 percent of the nations wealth was held by the top 10 percent of the population.  [8]  This disproportionate distribution of money caused the laborers and poor to see the wealthy and business as evil and millionaires as corrupt robber barons stealing their money. This distrust was inflamed by the immense differences in living conditions of each class. While millionaires lived comfortably in extravagant, laborers and factory workers lived in dirty and disease filled slums. However, in Wealth Carnegie attempts to bind together the rich and poor in harmonious relationship  [9]  and provides a humble interpretation of the rich as they are just a the mere trustee and agent for his poorer brethren.  [10]  He wishes to have peace between the two classe s and portrays the rich as helpful caretakers of poor. In their crusade in helping the poor become fit, the rich must have control over their capital in order to help them. Carnegie states that they would provide them with ladders upon which the aspiring can rise free libraries, parks, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ works of art,à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦and public institutions of various kinds.  [11]  He wanted to provide resources to those who will help themselves, just as he had brought himself up from working in a factory to owner of a steel factory. However, he would not just hand out money to the poor, because they would use it foolishly.  [12]  By providing with poor with these institutions, Carnegie hoped that they would learn how become fit and become more like the refined and educated millionaires. Even if the rich has so much, they should be willing to return some of their resources in the form of libraries and other services to assist the poor. By explaining that their wisdom and wealth will be used to assist the poor, the wealthy are given a legitimate reason to keep all their money and continue with the laissez-faire system of government. Even though Carnegie felt he provided the poor with ladders to success. The poor had no time to take advantage of them. As the wealthy obtained an immense amount of money, most of the population suffered in poverty. The poor had to work in dangerous factories in long 12 hour work days. After a day of hard work, laborers would barely make enough money to eat as Carnegies steel workers earned from $1.50 to $2.00 per day. While a family in the Pittsburg area needed $15 a week to live, most workers made less than $12.50.  [13]  Even if factory workers wanted to go to the local library they had no time or energy to do so. During this time, the wealthy were really not focused on relieving the needy with handouts. Carnegie felt that just giving foolish man money would cause him to spend it recklessly. He wanted to help the poor become more like the rich by providing them with the resources which would teach them how to be fit and if the poor really wanted to advance themselves, they wou ld go to a library and learn the skills necessary to do so. Given the circumstances, this would be unlikely, but Carnegie still proposes that this is a viable option, as he really does not know how the poor live. Since the government practiced laissez-faire politics which ensured that the government would stay away from business affairs, businessmen had full control over their finances and factories. If the government did interfere, they could only do so to benefit business, specifically those of the robber barons. Andrew Carnegies article Wealth supported this hands-off policy on business. As an article which drew heavily on the beliefs of social Darwinism, lack of government action would be beneficial to the evolution of society. The law of competition is not only beneficial, but essential to the future progress of the race and competition between these [businesses], as being not only beneficial, but essential to the future progress of the race.  [14]  Carnegie and many other businessmen believed that businesses should be free to compete against each other and that the government should stay out the way. If the government would get involved, they would only do so to protect competition between businesses. According to social Darwinism, competition would destroy the weak, leave only the fit in society. Thus, the skilled fit that remain are able to advance society and harvest their rewards. If the government created regulation that hindered competition between businesses, competition would be destroyed, and society would not be able to move forward. Therefore, any disruption or attempts to hinder the law of competition or defend the unfit were not allowed by the business owners. As Irvin Wyllie states in the article Social Darwinism and the Businessman, Herbert Spencer became the oracle of the age à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ in defense of laissez-faire as he applied the idea of evolution and completion to society.  [15]  Social Darwinisms law of competition became a bulwark for a government which did not interfere with businesses and left workers with despicable work conditions. In Wealth, Andrew Carnegie use of the law of competition to support the laissez-faire image of g overnment helped protect the businessmens interest. In Wealth, Carnegie also supported millionaires decision to fight against unions desires. Due to the harsh conditions in factories, low wages, long workdays, and lack of help from the government, unions like the Knights of Labor formed in an attempt to obtain a shorter workday and better working conditions for workers. Eight work days and higher wages would increase the bottom line and lessen the businessmans profit causing create deal of resistance from businessmen. Unfit laborers are portrayed by social Darwinism and Wealth as lazy and deserving of their suffering giving the idea that factory owners do not need listen to them. In Wealth, the wealthy are portrayed as all-knowing, as they know the best interests of the race.  [16]  Indeed, in this era, millionaires found unions to be hindrances to their companies and had the full support of federal government in stopping them. By emphasizing that the poor are unworthy, lazy, and ignorant and the wealthy knew what they were doing, Wealth defended why millionaires disliked unions and did everything they could to stop them. Andrew Carnegies article, Wealth, was a result of prevailing belief of social Darwinism in the Gilded Age. The rhetoric of Spencer and Sumners view of social Darwinism are apparent in his work and though this belief, Carnegie is able to say that the rich were the most capable group of people to hold and distribute the wealth. Through his ingrained belief of social Darwinism, he was also able to defend the wealths large accumulation of wealth, the laissez-faire government, and their aggression toward labor unions found during the Industrial era. Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) | Free essay | Management essays Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) | Free essay | Management essays Introduction KFC in the beginning was changing companies which belonged, since in 1964 Colonel Sanders first sold KFC. It was sold in a small group of investors who promoted KFC in public. In 1971 Heublein was highly involved in the day to day operations. However, R.J. Reynolds then acquired Heublein in 1982. R.J. took a more laid back approach and allowed business as usual at KFC. After that in 1986 PepsiCo bought this company and tried to grow it very fast and as well the restaurant segment even if KFC and PepsiCo had a very different culture and style which means that it was totally different. PepsiCo is a big company which recognized itself in 1985 and owns as well Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and now KFC. PepsiCo has a consumer product orientation and found that the marketing of fast food was very similar to the marketing of its soft drinks and snack foods. PepsiCo combines snack food, soft drinks and restaurants together and its a huge company in the world with many restaurants. Nowadays KFC belongs to YUM international and is the largest chicken restaurant in the world with over 32,500 restaurants with, AW All-American Foodâ„ ¢, Taco Bell, Long John Silvers and Pizza Hut in more than 100 countries. Today, some of the older KFC restaurants have become famous in their own right. One such restaurant is located in Marietta, Georgia. This store is notable for a 17m tall sign that looks like a chicken. The sign, known locally as the Big Chicken, was built for an earlier fast-food restaurant on the site called Johnny Rebs Chick, Chuck and Shake. It is often used as a travel reference point in the Atlanta area by locals and pilots. The original handwritten recipe is kept locked away at the KFC corporate headquarters in Louisville, Kentucky as a closely-guarded secret. Only two members within the Yum! Corporation knows the recipe in its entirety. Mission and Objectives we find reasons to celebrate the achievements of others and have fun doing it The mission of the KFC is to sell food in a fast ,to have a friendly environment that appeals to pride conscious, to be in a health minded consumers. The objectives of KFC is to increase the variety of menu, to introduce desert menu and introduce buffet to restaurants. Another objective goal is to target Menu items of African Americans in major cities with the following foods: greens, macaroni and cheese, peach cobbler, red beans and rice. However there are also menu items which should be target in Hispanics major cities are the fried plantains, flan, tres Leches. The implementations on non-traditional units are including the shopping mall food courts, universities, hospitals, airports, stadiums, amusement parks, office buildings, mobile units. Pest analysis Political UK Government has launched a new corporate tax scheme in April 2008, in which the tax is to decrease from 30% down to 28%, helping revive the economy and boost competition (BBC, 2008, p.1). Fast food companies like McDonalds, KFC, etc. could save millions of pounds from this stimulus. The Government is considering a proposed ban on junk food advertising to billboards, computer games and cinemas act in the face of the public health of child obesity. A blanket ban would be a hammer blow to companies such as KFC, McDonalds, Coca-Cola, Nestle, etc. (Mintel, 2009m, p.1) Economic As a result of the credit crunch and market instability, global markets are in disarray, deleveraging is under way (Kohler, 2009, p.27). The UK economy is now challenged by serious economic downturn. Latest Indicators published by Office for National Statistics (2009, p.1) states that all indexes are at negative interpretation, such as unemployment rate increased, GDP and national productivity decreased. The UK is heavily impacted by the economic downturn. Hickman (2007, p.1) argues that the era of spend, spend, and spend no longer exists. Britain shoppers habit of depending on credit cards is now forced to change. They have to cut back their expenditure since credit availability would be now a historic concept. Social Work mobility, working under pressure seems to force people to go out to eat and drink rather than cook at home for themselves (although this trend is moderated by credit crunch recently). People enjoy their spare time by spending hours in coffee stores, restaurants, cinemas, and fast foods are indispensable items in their orders. Bird and Hughes (1997, p.159) state that consumer is more and more concerning for ethical products. They are not only paying attention to products quality, but also ethical aspects of the goods purchased. This raises a question to all businesses, however, it is also an opportunity for those who care of their customers, their communities, like KFC, for instant. Customers concern about environmental issues in every item they buy (Mintel, 2009p, p.1). Environmental concerns are now a key priority among UK consumers and their importance is continuing to grow. Consumer concerns are encouraging retailers to introduce green products and to put their entire operations on a greener footing (Mintel, 2009c, p.1) Consumers may be increasingly turning to chicken outlets as a relatively healthy alternative to red meat, particularly on the back of recent government and health campaigners concerns over the nutritional content of fast food (Mintel, 2009a4, p.1) Attitudes towards burgers are changing. Burgers are no longer seen as should-be-avoid foods, but are positive ones instead (Mintel, 2009d, p.1). In addition, microwaveable burgers have been welcomed to serve a new snack-on-the-go audience (Mintel, 2009d, p.1). Technological and environmental issues The Internet is changing the way that many businesses are operating (Avinash and Minh, 2008, p.83). The Internet accounts for 8% of global advertising spend and growing rapidly (The Economist, 2007, p.124). It is an opportunity for fast food companies enabling its customers to order online easily via its website, creating competitive advantage for the company. Technology helps to shorten the geographic distance, booting business communication. Technology also helps to design and manufacture modern machines to produce high quality foods, saving time and human capital. Global warming, green house gas, recyclable materials are among most interests of environmental supporters. Swot analysis Strengths KFC has a very long history and has the most recognizable brand in chicken. KFC has name recognition around the world and has been globally positioned for many years. KFCs secret recipe of 11 herbs and spices has made it the leader in chicken for the last fifty years. KFC is the 2nd only to McDonalds in the UK and USA and ranks highest among all chicken restaurant chains for its convenience and menu variety. The quality of food is a key strength to KFC. The quality is defined by the YUM! and controlled by the local franchisees. There is a global standard, with regard to the quality of the KFC meals. The KFC recipes allow for quick a processing time, which makes it all the more convenient and more attractive to prospective clients. Customer-focused approach brings advantages to KFC. The company cares about the health of its customers. Recently, in 2008, KFC signs up to the Food Standards Agency commitment to providing healthier meals, helping its customers enjoy a healthier, more balanced diet. The commitments include: working with suppliers to reduce salt and saturated fat levels, dressings and frying oils for alternatives that are lower in saturated fat, increasing the number of healthier options on the menu and making nutritional information more readily available to customers (Mintel, 2009l). The company also puts nutritional information of its products online and in stores. KFC does business ethically and environmentally. KFC UK has promised to reduce packaging and waste by selling products such as its Fillet and Zinger burgers just wrapped into paper rather than in a cardboard box. The chain said it aimed to reduce waste by up to 14000 tonnes over 2009 (Mintel, 2009p). KFC has a strong development plan. In February 2009, KFC announced to open 300 new UK outlets between 2009 and 2014, creating 9,000 jobs. This expansion was designed to capitalise on really strong growth and customers increasingly turning to cheaper food options amid the credit crunch (Mintel, 2009q). Weaknesses Rumour: There is a rumour about using GMO chicken (Genetic Modification Organism). This arouses a great controversy in many places. For a developed market like the UK, this impacts negatively on KFC image since people think that the use of GM chicken will have great influence on the food chain which is very crucial to the environmental health and nature development. Legal issues: KFC has been ordered to pay a  £24,000 fine following the discovery of poor hygiene standards at its Bridgend branch in South Wales. The branchs staff did not wash their hands and wore dirty aprons, while the sites hot water was turned off, meaning that staff were also unable to wash food preparation equipment (Mintel, 2009k). Trans fats issues: KFC predominantly cooks its chicken in vegetable oil called trans fats, an unhealthy method of cooking (Oppapers, 2009). Lacking fun: Since majority of KFCs customers are people between 14 and 44, who are young, dynamic, and proactive, store decoration and atmosphere play a critical role for the companys success. Lack of knowledge about their customers: KFC does not have its own customer database. Opportunities The chicken and burger bar market reached  £3.6 billion in 2007 and is predicted to rise following years. The traditional low-cost fast food outlets are well placed to remain relevant as economic conditions tighten. The burger market reached nearly  £2.5 billion 2007 whereas chicken outlets were valued at nearly  £1 billion, however, the latter showed higher growth rates over the past six years. The takeaway market continues to outperform the eat-in sector (Mintel, 2009z). Despite the economic downturn, consumers are still likely to continue eating out, according to a survey of 1,000 UK diners by Survey Shack. 63% said price wasnt the major factor influencing whether they chose to eat out or not, and 77% said they would pay more if a meal was made from high-quality ingredients (Mintel, 2009y). Grab-and-go culture: The convenience of takeaway meals has a clear demographic bias towards men, younger consumers and those who are single. Factors such as lack of motivation to worry too much about nutrition (eg the absence of children) or that it is expensive or wasteful to cook for one-person meals will play a part in this motivation (Mintel, 2009c). Growth in the 15-24-year-old age group has benefited the chicken/burger sector as they represent the core market, however, the predicted drop in 15-19-year-olds in coming years will present challenges (Mintel, 2009a1). Threats Supermarkets and new competitors: Supermarkets own-label offerings have long been a significant part of the UK food sales, holding a share of nearly 29% and continuing growth in market share (Mintel, 2009a). The National Minimum Wage (adults now receive  £5.52 an hour) continues to have an impact on the fast food market. These increases can have a major effect on the cost base of the larger chicken and burger bar operators, particularly when you consider KFC has some 8,000 employees in the UK (Mintel, 209b). The introduction of the Licensing Act 2003 (for England and Wales) in 2005 has led to many pubs having extended opening hours, generating further competition for fast-food chains, both in terms of the later nights and daytime trade (Mintel, 2009b). Health trend away from fried foods: According to campaign group Consensus Action On Salt and Health, some meals from top fast food chains conceal shockingly high salt levels. The worst contain more than double a childs recommended daily salt intake in a single meal. Customers react negatively to this news (Mintel, 2009x) Recent survey by Mintel (2009) states that growth in fast food industry has slowed in recent years. It implies of an intense competition in the eating out market and the maturing of the. BCG MATRIX KFC uses large amounts of cash and is leader in the business so since it is a leader it should use a large amount of cash. The company has the worst cash characteristics of all, because there are high demands and low returns due to low market share. If there is not market share, question marks will simply take in great amounts of cash and when the growth will stop then there will be a dog. CASH COW Profits and cash generation should be high, and because of the low growth, investments were low. Keep profits high DOGS KFC should avoid and minimize the dogs in the company. As I mentioned before the BCG Matrix of KFC is depending totally from the YAM! Company which includes as well the other companies the referent standard is the industry growth rate measured against the SBUs growth rate. Product life cycle All the products have their life cycle whether it is very successful or not. The life cycle has four stages. The first stage is the introduction of the product and such an example will be the hot wings. The second stage is the growth of the product and the product is the hot shots. The third stage is the maturity and the product is zinger, chicken mania, chicken burger. And the fourth stage is the decline which is the twister. Task environment My company diversified in many industries and for each industry has different suppliers. It audits its suppliers for compliance and non compliance. Kentucky Fried Chicken Garcia, Augie. Discussions, March 12, 1999 www.scribd.com applied marketing Mr. Muhammad Nouman BBC (2008). Call for corporate tax clampdown. Available at http://news.bbc.co. uk/1/hi /uk_politics/7681165.stm. Accessed 3 January 2009 Mintel (2009m). Proposed banned on junk food advertising could be extended. Available online at: http://academic.mintel.com/sinatra/oxygen_academic/search_results/show/display/id=118422/display/id=218594 Accessed 07 March 2009 Office for National Statistics (2009). Latest indicators. Available online at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/instantfigures.asp. Accessed 09 March 2009 Hickman M. (2007): First the credit crunch now the spending squeeze, The Independent on Sunday (2007) Thursday, 13 September 2007. Bird K and Hughes D. (1997). Ethical Consumerism: The Case Of Fairly-Traded Coffee. Business Ethics A European Review Volume 6 Issue 3,Pages159-167 Mintel (2009p). KFC reduces packaging. (27/1/2009). Available online at: http://academic.mintel.com/sinatra/oxygen_academic/search_results/showset_access_filter=all-ZUK/display/id=280379/display/id=227776/display/id=438171. Accessed 08 March 2009 Mintel (2009c). Internal market environment. Available online at http://academic.mintel.com/sinatra/oxygen_academic/subject/view=reports_categorylevels=90849list=cat_itemscat=17lev=1/display/id=394656/display/id=442497. Accessed 07 March 2009. Mintel (2009a4). Chicken and Burger Bar UK March 2008: Market in brief. Available online at: http://academic.mintel.com/sinatra/oxygen_academic//display/id=280379/display/id=329487. Accessed 07 March 2009 Mintel (2009d). Burgers UK 2008. Available online at http://academic.mintel.com/sinatra/oxygen_academic/my_reports/display/id=227787anchor=atom/display/id=227776. Accessed 07 March 2009 Avinash, W. and Minh. Q. H. (2008) How Can Internet Service Providers Tap into the Potentially-Lucrative Small Business Market? International Journal of E-Business Research, 4(1), p.82-98 The Economist (2007). The world in figures: industries. The world in 2008. p124, 126.

Free Merchant of Venice Essays: Injustice :: free essay writer

The Merchant of Venice is horrid, cruel, and one of the most popular plays of Shakespeare. After a close reading of the play, I find it impossible to think of Shylock negatively; he is just better quality stuff than any of the Christians in the play. The Christians are truly vile, heartless, money-grabbing monsters, and when Shylock makes his final exit, destroyed by defeat, one should sense that our Christian brothers are at last completely ashamed of themselves. I was hesitant to have anything to do with The Merchant of Venice after I first read it; all possible intrigue had dissolved as I read passages such as the following: "He hath disgraced me and hindered me half a million, laughed at my losses, mocked my gains, scorned my nation, thwarted my bargains, cooled my friends, heated mine enemies, and what's his reason? I am a Jew. Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions? ...If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die?" (III.1.49-55, 58-60) This passage tears at my very soul!!! This play was to me a biting farce written to satisfy a bloody crowd. While researching for this paper, I found two seemingly opposing facts about The Merchant of Venice - the Shakespearean play which have sparked the most controversy. This play is the most controversial and the most studied play in Israel. It is difficult to understand how this play could be beloved by the very people who are struck down. Apparently there are various readings of The Merchant of Venice which I had not considered. Perhaps the play is neither pro-Jewish, nor pro-Christian. Sure, Shylock is painted as a money-hungry Jew throughout the Merchant, "My daughter, O my ducats! My ducats, O my daughter!" Shylock is enraged his daughter has eloped with a Christian, but perhaps he is more concerned with the fate of his money. Antonio, a Christian, has borrowed money from Shylock and refuses to pay it back. Here the reader may find a Jew-hating man who publicly spits on Shylock, and suffers from the grief of an unfullfilled homo-erotic relationship.

Factors That Led to the Growth of the Concept of New Public Management Essay

New Public Management is an attempt to reorient and restructure public bureaucracy in the era of globalisation, liberalisation. Following are the main factors which contributed to the growth of New Public Management perspectives: 1. Reaction against Bureaucratic Administration and Elephantine growth of governmental expenditure: The impact of globalisation has been significant on the public administration. The globalisation prompted such changes such as increased interdependence among states, reduction intrade barriers among nations, growing use of information and communication technology and close realignment of public and private sectors. The prevailing state bureaucracy was not able to face these challenges as it was too unwieldy, unresponsive, inefficient, ineffective and not suitable to face emerging competition. In the decade of 1980, the bureaucracy came under severe criticism for the above deficiency. Also, in 1970s and 1980s, due to public welfare orientation, there was an excessive growth in government expenditure which was poorly managed by the large state bureaucracy. Under these circumstances both the size and role of the state was questioned under the prevailing conditions. 2. Impact of Neo-liberalism: The political ideology of neo-liberalism has held a dominating presence during 1980s and 1990s as far as the nature and role of the state is concerned. Neo-liberalism advocated dominant presence of markets against state, rolling-back the state in welfare activities, maximizing individual liberty and freedoms. The tenets of neo-liberalism have close bearing on the rise of New Public Management. 3. Hold of New Right Philosophy in U.K. and U.S.A.: The New Right philosophy with more efficient allocation of resources through market mechanism and less role of the state in social and economic sphere held its sway in 1970s in the U.K. and the U.S.A. Thus, it is not surprising that the new public management perspective was most popular in these countries. 4. Washington Consensus: The Washington consensus is a set of economic reform measures evolved in 1989 by IMF, World Bank, U.s. Congress and scholars such as Williamson to restructure economies in view of financial crisis of 1980s in Latin American countries. It is a structural adjustment and economic stabilisation programme which advocated trade and financial liberalisation, privatisation and deregulation of domestic markets. The tenets of Washington consensus bear close affinity with the New Public Management perspective. 5. Influence of Public Choice Approach: The public choice approach pro-pounded byeconomists such as Fullock, Niskanen, Buchanen, argues that the dominant feature of human behaviour is self interest, which should be maximised through the arrangement of multiple public service agencies that would amplify the scope of people’s choice. It emphasises on the competition and efficiency among the multiple public service delivery mechanism. This approach has influenced the fundamental principles of the New Public Management. Thus, the New Public Management perspective is the result of a number of pull factors such as inefficiency of the state and traditional bureaucracy and certain pull factors such as neo-liberalism, New Right Philosophy, public choice approach and Washington consensus which inter alias supported roll-back of the state, dominance of Market mechanism and need of competition and efficiency

Billy Elliot Family

Describe at least ONE idea that was worth learning about in the text(s). Explain why the idea was worth learning about in the text(s) as a whole, using examples of visual and/or oral language features to support your ideas. The film Billy Elliot directed by Stephen Daldry, is set in the miners town of Durham in the north east of Engand in the 1980’s. The film focuses on Billy Elliot, a 12 year old boy who is pressured and abused by his violent family as he tries to pursue his love of dancing in a predominantly miners town where ballet is for girls.An idea I felt was worth learning about tin the film was the idea of family relations. I believe this idea was worth learning about because it showed me why Jackie and Billy held such disdain for Billy’s ballet, Billy’s feelings as a result of his families pressure and that family bonds can overcome great adversity. Throughout the film, Daldry uses a range of film techniques to portray this idea of family relations. The first reason why the idea of family relations was worth learning about was because it showed me why Billy and Jackie held such disdain for Billy’s ballet.Throughout the film, Billy and Jackie represent the major obstacle Billy has to overcome to pursue his love of ballet. Following the recent death of Tony and Billy’ mother (Jackie’s wife) everyone in the family is wrought with grief. Adding to this is the intensity of the miner’s strike going on in the town which Jackie and Tony are involved in. In this tense home environment, the last thing they wanted was their son to be doing ballet, especially in the highly stereotypical society they lived in where ballet dancers are labeled as ‘poofs’. The main reason Tony and Jackie hated ballet so much, was because it reflects badly on the family.Tony and Jackie are great fans of boxing and push Billy towards it, even though he is blatantly useless at boxing. With the high pressure of the time they a re in, Billy’s doing ballet is the last straw and Jackie and tony are furious. An example from the film to show Jackie and Tony’s opposition to ballet is the dialogue when Jackie says to Billy: â€Å"Ballet is for girls Billy. Boys do things like boxing or wrestling, not friggin’ ballet! † The patronizing tone Jackie uses and the incredulousness in his voice shows his obvious disdain for Billy. Another example from the film to show Jackie’s hate of ballet is hen he sees Billy in the ballet class for the first time. The background sound of the piano playing cuts out, creating a suspenseful environment, and the close up shot of Jackie’s red, manic face shows his rage at Billy doing ballet. The curt dialogue, â€Å"You! Out! ,† seals the deal showing there is no hope in Jackie’s eyes for Billy to continue participating in ballet classes. The idea of family relations showed me that Jackie and Tony held such disdain for Billyâ€℠¢s ballet under the high pressure circumstances they were in, and they didn’t want their families reputation to be tarnished by having a ‘poof’ in the family.The second reason why the idea of family relations was worth learning about was because it showed me Billy’s feelings as a result of his family’s pressure. Ever since he first see’s Miss Wilkinson’s ballet class dancing in the boxing gym, he is hooked on ballet as it is a way for him to express his natural love of dancing. He secretly trains with the class by telling his family he is attending the boxing classes. However, when Jackie sees him, his ballet classes are in jeopardy as his family is strongly against him training.But Billy continues to train secretly with private lessons with Miss Wilkinson. The first feeling I was shown as a result of his families pressure Billy’s love of ballet and dancing. Billy’s perseverance under his family’s pressure to conti nue with ballet throughout the film showed me Billy loved ballet so much he was willing to stand up to his violent family. An example of Billy’s love of ballet is the close up shot of his face after he nails his first pirouette. His face shows a wide grinning smile, showing his happiness at succeeding at ballet.While scene is going on, there is a crosscut to a montage of Billy In his bathroom practicing pirouettes. This showed his commitment to ballet. Throughout the film, there are also many symbols to show Billy is ‘caged in’ by his family and he wants to break free from their traditions and do what he loves. An example of this is when Billy’s father first sees him doing ballet. Jackie is on the outside of the cage and Billy on the inside, symbolizing that Billy is trapped by his family’s traditions.Another example is that the scenes of the mining village were shot in a tight-knit claustrophobic way to show that Billy was again trapped by the trad itions of the town and was claustrophobic, when Billy is dancing however, the shot widens up to show that when Billy is dancing he is free from his families pressure and expectations. The idea of family relations showed me that through his family’s pressure and traditions, Billy’s love of dancing was very great by the way he continued on with it despite his violent family, and that he felt caged in and claustrophobic by the miners town.The final reason why the idea of family relations was worth learning about was that it showed me that family bonds can overcome great obstacles. Early on in the film, Jacke and Tony are strongly against Billy continuing with ballet. This is symbolized by dialogue such as: â€Å"Ballet is for girls Billy,† and close up shots are used showing Tony and Jackie’s faces showing anger and frustration when the conversation concerns ballet. This changes when Jackie sees Billy dance for the first time.He is moved by Billy’s pa ssion and talent for dancing. In this scene, defiant music is played while Billy dances for Jackie showing he is finally standing up to Jackie. From here on in the film, Jackie starts to support Billy in his dancing by attempting to go back to the mines and selling his wife’s jewellery, which is very special to him. This change was very significant to me, as it showed that family bonds and the love in families could overcome obstacles, financial and social, as great ad the ones the Elliot family overcome.An example of the change in the Elliot family is that at the beginning of the film, Tony and Jackie are often portrayed by low angle shots when their behavior is threatening to Billy showing they are dominant, but towards the end of the film they are portrayed in mid-shots when talking to Billy to show equality between the family members. An example of this is when Jackie is talking to Billy in the meadow. This idea of family relations showed me that family bonds could overco me great obstacles and that family love is unconditional, despite the harsh circumstances.In conclusion, the film Billy Elliot by Stephen Daldry focuses on Billy as he tries to pursue his love of ballet despite the pressure of his family and their traditions. The idea of family relations in the film helped me to understand why Billys family was so against ballet, what Billy’s feelings were throughout the film and how family bonds can overcome great obstacles. Throughout the film, Daldry uses a range of film techniques to portray Tony and Jackie’s obvious disdain for ballet, Billy’s love of ballet and the tumultuous time the Elliot family is going throughout following the death of Jackie’s wife and the miners strikes.