Management Information System Essay

ABSTRACT Management Information System (MIS) provides information for the managerial activities in an Organization. The main purpose of this research is, MIS provides accurate and timely information necessary to facilitate the decision-making process and enable the organizations planning, control, and operational Functions to be carried out effectively. Management Information System (MIS) is basically concerned with processing data into information and is then communicated to the various Departments in an organization for appropriate decision-making. MIS is a subset of the overall planning and control activities covering the application of humans, technologies, and procedures of the organization. . The information system is the mechanism to ensure that information is available to the managers in the form they want it and when they need it. INTRODUCTION: MIS provides several benefits to the business organization: the means of effective and efficient coordination between Departments; quick and reliable referencing; access to relevant data and documents; use of less labor; improvement in organizational and departmental techniques; management of day-to-day activities (as accounts, stock control, payroll, etc.); day-to-day assistance in a Department and closer contact with the rest of the world.MIS provides a valuable time-saving benefit to the workforce. Employees do not have to collect data manually for filing and analysis. Instead, that information can be entered quickly and easily into a computer program. As the amount of raw data grows too large for employees’ to analyze, business analysts can build programs to access the data and information in response to queries by management. With faster access to needed information, managers can make better decisions about procedures, future directions, and developments by competitors, and make them more quickly we are living in a time of great change and working in an Information Age. Manager’s have to assimilate masses of data, convert that data into information, form conclusions about that information and make decisions leading to the achievement of business objectives. For an organization, information is as important resource as money, machinery and manpower. It is essential for the survival of the enterprise. METHODOLOGY: RESEARCH DESIGN Research design was adopted for the â€Å"Descriptive Research Study†. OBJECTIVES 1. To study pros and cons of outsourcing corporate IT security 2. To give suitable recommendations for increasing it security. DATA COLLECTION METHODS In the research two types of data were collected-: SECONDARY DATA Secondary data are those which have already been collected by someone else and hence collected large no. of relavant information in order to come on a conclusion and recommendations for solving the problems.

Frankeinstien Unit Test Part 2

Name: |Date: 3-11-13 | |Graded Assignment Unit Test, Part 2: Frankenstein Answer each question using complete sentences. Answer Questions 1 and 2 with responses of no less than one paragraph. Answer Questions 3 with a response of no less than three paragraphs. (15 points) |Score | | | 1. Explain Mary Shelley’s use of reoccurring ideas (motif) in Frankenstein and provide at least two examples of this reoccurring image or idea from the text.Answer: -The women in the story were passive and suffered silently, like Justine who was executed for a crime she didn’t commit. Also abortion, Victor aborts his act of creating the female monster. (15 points) |Score | | | 2. What does duality mean? What examples from the text can you give as examples of duality? What do these examples say about the nature of human life in general? Answer: Duality is the state of quality of being two or in two parts.The monster shows duality in his ability to have and show love for others, and wanting for people to love him too. The flip side to that is his hatred for himself and wanting to destroy his creator for making him. (25 points) |Score | | | 3. Think about some of the characteristics (are they smart, dumb, tall, short, loud, quiet, funny, caring? ) of the 2 main characters in this story: Victor Frankenstein and his monster. How are these 2 characters similar?How are they different? Which of these two characters do you have compassion for the most? Why? Please give examples (quotes) from the novel. Answer: Victor and his monster are alike because they both share a dislike for each other, and the monster. Victor and his monster are both alone. They are different, because victor was raised by his family who loved him, while the monster was brought to life and basically abandoned by his creator who didn’t love him. |Your Score |___ of 55 |

A Financial Study Of Qatar Airways Tourism Essay

A Financial Study Of Qatar Airways Tourism Essay Qatar airlines which ranked amongst one of the best airline in the Gulf States lacking behind Emirates airways has been known to occupy second fiddle. The company recently has launched series of bold steps to re-position it from a † second choice † airline company to the number one competing head to head with the emirates in the business class segment of the market. Some of the activities include aggressive not only in its growth strategies, but in building its reputation and brand awareness. It places the highest priority on providing customers with the best service and unique accommodations and types of service provided. To do this, it has formed alliances with several different organizations to provide improved and unique services. For example, Qatar Airways has signed an agreement with Showtime Arabia and its new 560 satellite television systems. Qatar Airways is the launch customer for the Tailwind 560, and the service offered through the Tailwind 560 makes it the f irst international airline to provide passengers with live television across multiple regions. Introduction Today, the involvement of Middle Eastern airlines in extra-regional operations varies, but is already comparably high. Emirates is offering 82% of its seat capacity on extra-regional services. Most other important carriers from the region like Etihad Airways (74%), Qatar Airways (66%) and Gulf Air (54%) also operate more than half of their seats on extra-regional flights (AEA, 2006). Air France (26%) and Lufthansa (23%) show that the share of extra regional offer for European network carriers is considerably less, indicating that these carriers have stronger domestic markets. It has also projected the following for its financial year outlook. Qatar Airways aims for 40% jump in revenues, says CEO Akbar Al Baker. Defying the global financial downturn, Qatar Airways is expecting to record a 40 per cent increase in its revenues in its current financial year ending March 31, 2011 o ver the last year, according to the Doha-based airline’s chief executive officer.†We are targeting a 40 per cent increase in revenues for this year, which is slightly over the increase in the airline’s capacity of around 30 per cent. Qatar has also come up with balance marketing Mix to as to shift from competitor of Emirates to main player in the airline industry in the Gulf region. The Airline Industry and The Challenges The commercial aviation industry has been characterized by a cyclic nature since its inception. During times of economic prosperity, passenger traffic demand grows and airlines seek to add capacity to meet that demand. Conversely, during economic downturns, airlines respond to decreased travel demand through cancelling flights, grounding or selling aircraft and generally shrinking capacity. By 2005, a new wave of brash exuberance was experienced in the airline industry, and aircraft orders skyrocketed fourfold, year over-year, to record levels o f more than 2000 units, split fairly evenly between Airbus and Boeing. (See Fig. 1.) A sizable portion of aircraft buying originated with airlines based in the Gulf Region. Traffic growth in that region of the world was strong, and carriers like Emirates, Etihad and Qatar began placing large aircraft orders, often in duals of one-upmanship at various air-shows such as Paris, Farnborough and Dubai.

Andy Warhol's Pop Art Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Andy Warhol's Pop Art - Research Paper Example The paper "Andy Warhol's Pop Art" states the primary sources of Andy Warhol's pop art. The world of fashion in New York and internationally were interwoven with the fine art crowd of museums. Artists, models, young actors and actresses, musicians, and all manner of up and coming celebrities were pictured in Andy Warhol’s diary. Warhol’s language is like gossip when he describes the scenes, scandals, cliques, and conversations that occur in his presence involving some of the most famous names in pop culture. Mick Jagger, Bianca Jagger, Halston, Basquiat, Lou Reed, Nico, and others are favorites as he attends parties on the Upper East Side of Manhattan featuring all of the wealth and luxury of the entertainment world. Warhol clearly understood the path to celebrity and struggled to achieve that in his life. Hacket writes: â€Å"Every night, celebrities of the art, fashion, music, and ‘underground’ filmmaking crowds jammed themselves into favorite corners of the back room at Max’s and monitored each other’s clothes, makeup, wit, and love interests while they received ‘exchange’ celebrities from out of town—directors and producers from Europe or Hollywood—and waited to be taken away from ‘all this’ (New York notoriety) and put into ‘all that’. Andy’s art hung on the wall.† Thus, if every artist must be supported and reflective of a larger culture, than Warhol’s closest identity is to this Upper East Side Manhattan and Greenwich Village crowd of young bohemians, artists, models, and actresses., all of whom shared the career goals of Warhol of attaining celebrity status through their self-expression. Warhol’s art becomes more â€Å"universal† and American when it symbolizes a superficial culture, pop culture, where everybody has 15 minutes of fame. Fame is an integral part of art and art history as it is known in modern times, because if an artist is not famous, his or her work will not be printed, distributed, and known. If the artist is not famous, it will have no influence on other artists and vanish, no matter its beauty or technical excellence. Warhol’s art is conceptual and uses silk-screens of sampled images taken from photographs, or copied from print and television advertisements. Warhol himself may only paint a few details of

Evaluation of Educational Programs Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Evaluation of Educational Programs - Essay Example Other schools rule out students from justice system for children so as to avoid educating the students with special needs who could gain from remaining in school if these educators could have recognized the potentials and address their mental, behavioral, emotional, and development needs. Violation of the rights of students under the act of disabled individuals to get free education is an indirect effort to re-segregate schools through ruling out students based on their culture, ethnicity, linguistic traits and disabilities. It is a high time for schools which do not implement the zero reject placement to start adopting this policy. Faulty lies are not in act of disabled individuals but in systems with inadequate capacities and poor administrative skills. The disabled individual act requires all disabled students to be located in their respective district schools and make sure that they get free and suitable public education. Under this law no child should be denied public education irrespective of his or her disability. The state was to satisfy the provision of free education to the students with disabilities, giving them personalized instructions accompanied with proper supporting services allowing the disabled student to gain educationally using the instructions. These services and instruction were to meet educational regulations as provided by the state. They were to be made available at the expense of the public and be closely similar to grade levels applied in normal education. The instructions were to be formulated in agreement with the Act of disabled individual and in case educating a child in a normal classroom, the instructions were to be carefully looked into to allow a child to acquire the average marks and progress from one level to another. Additionally, the cost of educating a highly retarded student was too high because it required a lot of effort and many educational staff members; the population of highly retarded students was very small as c ompared with whole population of students; the educational advancement of the highly retarded students was very slow compared with other students' progress. Therefore, maximizing total satisfaction would fail following the above positions, through provision of special education to highly retarded students. Alternatively, the positions above would advise the usage of special needs funds on educating other children (Turnbull, A., Turnbull, R., & Wehmeyer, 2010). Least selective environment placement The second placement is least selective environment: this is where the disabled students should be taught by the non disabled students and should gain access to curriculum. The classrooms which contain both the non disabled and the disabled students should provide appropriate and useful environment for students who have disabilities. Moreover, normal students should know that the incapacitated learners are worthy individuals in the classrooms. It is evident that if the disabled students ar e involved in typical education, they can develop and learn more. A particular student with disability may be ignored from the typical curriculum due to the degree of his or her disability; the act of disabled individuals enables the student to get services whether from outside or inside the typical education. The educators' lack of capacity and will are the two things that limit them from following this principle. The act of individuals who have disabil

A fountain pen Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

A fountain pen - Essay Example Companies source raw materials required in the production process from various stockholders and international suppliers. Before distribution to various target markets, assembling of the components occurs at specific sites (Anklesaria 211). The design of fountain pens is in various ways and styles. A fountain pen may be custom made or produced in bulk. In designing custom fountain pens, an individual generally decides the elements and style that he wants to be incorporated in the product, thus may include specifications like, color, laminating strips, the engraving of particular patterns on the surface, or inlaying materials like gemstones into surface. A custom pen usually has a different and unique look from the design of other fountain pens produced in bulk. Mass produced pens usually resemble in design and shape but may differ in color. This is because custom pens are generally expensive to produce than the mass-produced pens. A fountain pen incorporates various materials in its production process. The pen’s barrels are made from a series of materials including gold, silver or copper; however, these materials are utilized for custom pens. Consequently, mass produced pens are produced out of inexpensive materials including Lucite also referred as acrylic resin, cellulose acetate among other moldable polymers. Consequently, hand-made fountain pens use stable and solid materials including plywood, leather, antlers, and crushed velvet. These affordable materials utilize simple tools in production. Moreover, the nib is also a vital component of the fountain pen, which is usually made out of stainless steel, gold, or sterling silver as the former is the widely utilized material. On the other hand, the pen fittings and clips are made out of electroplated gold alloys while custom pens may make use of gold (Anklesaria 211). The ink is also an important

Singer- and Kants categorical imperative Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Singer- and Kants categorical imperative - Essay Example One of the major contributors in bioethics is Peter Singer who has put across various theories in this field. One theory he stipulates is that sacrifices of significant interests must not be done for the sake of minor interest. By this, he means that when considering an ethical issue one must evaluate what is more valuable than the other and then make a decision favoring what is more significant of the two factors. This theory has been used to decide on various ethical issues when it comes to medicine. A practical example is by considering the example given earlier. In the hospitals doctors and family members always find themselves in tough situations I deciding whether to turn off machines that are keeping a patient who is brain dead alive. Often family members always rely on the doctor’s advice when deciding on whether to pull the plug or not. By using singer’s theory doctors often ask their self one crucial question. Is the patient who is brain dead worth keeping alive without the hopes of any recovery even though it means putting the patient’s family members in serious financial problems because of the high costs they incur as a result of medical bill? After doctors evaluate this question, they end up advice their patient’s family member to agree to turn of the machines keeping the patient alive since they will only suffer financially despite the fact that the patient will never wake up or recover. Singer’s theory has also been vastly used when it comes to the ethical issue of using animals when it comes to the advancement of medicine and biology. He argues that rights for animals, which are of an inferior species than humans should not be put before that of human beings. By this, the scholar stipulated that, people should not discredit the use of animals in medical research because this testing f animals will help along were in improving the lives of human beings, which is much more valuable than the life of

Business Management, Marketing Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Business Management, Marketing - Assignment Example The firm also has vigorous plans to increase its domestic market share in the coming year. The global market for LCD televisions in fiscal year 2008 was approximately 107 million units (Sony Annual Report, 2009), which implies a growth of 24% over 2007 sales. The unit selling prices are declining and economic slowdown is expected to hamper growth. The global market for media players is pegged at 275 million units by 2011 (Research and Markets, 2007). The market trend is shifting toward pocket gaming mobile telephony with multimedia features available on the fly. Marketing objectives should favourably affect the company's top-line. These should be challenging, specific, measurable, and have a set time-line in which the objectives are to be achieved (Palmer, 2009). The marketing objectives in the current context, hinge upon domestic and international market. It is pertinent therefore, to analyse the company's core strength, market opportunities, threats from competition, and limitations if any, so that, the objectives set forth can be achieved with stretched resources in hand. LCD televisions and multimedia players are perceived as status symbols that reflect a "digital, cool lifestyle," which provides a sense of belonging in the peer group. It's an icon product that "needs to be owned," as a mark of a high culture lifestyle. These products also serve the "social need" for entertainment with no dangling wires, and plug-and-play convenience. With regard to MP3 and MP4 media players, these products are popular with the youth, as also, with joggers, travellers, and music lovers. The current trends are moving towards lightweight, compact, wireless units that have huge gigabyte memories, and can be connected to the internet on the fly. Market Segment by Age The major market segment by age, for the company's product lines, would be the 15 to 64 year old group that is projected at approximately 3100 million in emerging economy, and 800 million in the developed world (UN & Morgan Stanley, n.d.). Currently, around 60% of population in U.K. qualify under the working age category, which roughly amounts to 37 million people (Office for National Statistics on-line, 2009). Reports indicate that the unemployment rate at the end of third quarter of 2009 stood at 7.8%. Market Segment by Geography 80% of revenue would be slated to come from domestic market segment, and the balance from international

Distant learning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Distant learning - Essay Example Citing the pitfalls of DL as the reason for its disbandment is a way too easy out of problems, since all artificially contrived constructs are imperfect. This kind of standpoint also betrays being derelict of pragmatism and the failure to grasp the essence of DL. It is for these same reasons that educationalists posit that even in the face of a myriad of challenges that beset DL, DL can still be improved by fusing its elements with those of traditional learning. Statement of the problem This discussion is to facilitate a meaningful discourse on the nature, competitive progress and the fate of the distant or virtual learning system. Definition of Terms On one hand, the term distant learning refers to a system of learning whereby classes get conducted by correspondence, and lectures are broadcasted through the Internet, so that the student needs not to attend a literal school or college. In order to avoid a brush with redundancy, distant learning is to be abbreviated as DL, in this discussion. Thus, DL may be synonymously referred to as distance education. For this same cause, online education is not only a facet of DL, but may also be treated as an alternative term for DL, in this discussion. Another term that are used synonymously to DL include virtual learning, though the abbreviation DL is to be chiefly used. On the other hand, traditional learning refers to conventional and long-established customs in schools and colleges, having been deemed as appropriate by the society. Another term that may be synonymously used to refer to traditional education is back-to-back basics.

How Important Is Money Essay Example for Free

How Important Is Money Essay To different people money is important in many ways. Money is used to do a lot, you use it to buy a house so you have somewhere to live instead of living under a bridge, you use it to keep your car running properly, and without money a lot of people wouldn’t be happy. Without money people cannot live healthy. You need money to buy food, clothing, and personal hygiene products. Some people go over bored and think that money is a necessity to have and whine up going over board and buying things non-essential to natural living. To me money is less important as long as I have enough to get food for my family, a roof over my head, clothing on my family and myself, power to my house, and gas in my car or money to ride the bus I am completely happy and that is what is important about money to me. It would be nice to have some extra here and there but as long as my family and I can survive that is all that matter. How would you pay your bills if you didn’t have money? How would sick children get the help they need without money? Both of these questions are questions that have been a big deal in my life. The answer to each is you would be able to. Even if you didn’t have money and you needed assistant that still involves someone donating the money. Money is an important aspect to everyone in this thing called life. Then again to other people money might be important in other ways. It all depends on who we are talking about when we ask the question â€Å"How important is money? † Without money we wouldn’t be able to go to school and prepare for life or get college degrees and further our educations. We wouldn’t be able to pay for medications that help heal us of any diseases or pain management. I do subscribe to the notion that money isn’t everything but I also believe that it is a major, critical facet of life today. If we can take the need for money out of our life’s equation then we will be free to live life as it’s meant to be lived but as long as it remains a means for survival nobody can tell me money isn’t important or doesn’t create an immense amount of unhappiness and stress. I think it’s very easy to say money isn’t important when you’ve got a lot of it but when you haven’t got it; it’s the most stressful part of living life. Many will argue that money is an object that, while making life a little easier, doesn’t or can’t buy happiness.

Akhism, Guild system in the ottoman empire

Akhism, Guild system in the ottoman empire GUILD SYSTEM IN THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE: FROM AKHISM TO GEDIK SYSTEM Akhism which is an organization founded by the Turkish people in Anatolia, is an important guild system for the Ottoman State when we take its regulatory role (of the social order) into consideration. In this paper, I will give detailed information about Akhism until its removal, including its origin, its importance, its guild organization, its norms and its roles in the society. Akhism; being an Arabic word which meant â€Å"brotherhood†, was the name given to the unions of artisans (esnaf) and craftsmen (zanaatà §Ãƒâ€žÃ‚ ±) between the 13th and 20th centuries. Akhi organizations were the associations which have been training their own craft members, which have been organizing and controlling the economic constitutions of the society (ÇaÄÅ ¸atay, 1989:1) and as in all pre-capitalist societies, in Ottoman State, production was organized within the guild organization which had four levels as â€Å"errand boy† (à §Ãƒâ€žÃ‚ ±rak), â€Å"apprentice† (yamak), â€Å"qualified workman† (usta), and â€Å"master† (Belge, 2005:312). Western orientalists say that the origins of the Akhism go back to the Islamic Futuwah tradition. The Arabic word Futuwah means youthful qualities. These youthful qualities are courage, generosity, hospitality and being skilled in all kinds of physical exercises (ÇaÄÅ ¸atay,1989:2-3). Although some Western social scientists think that Futuwah and Akhism have the same meaning and the same role, Ã…Å ¾anal Gà ¼Ãƒ §là ¼ (2007) think that they are different. They say that although Futuwah is more authoritarian and more religion based, Akhism is an organization which regulates the working conditions and every kind of needs of the artisans; and which is existing within the society, not being separated from it. Akhi organization which is based on the rules put by Islam scholars tries to provide ethical and well-behaved lifestyle to the artisans; and to ameliorate their craft level to a certain degree to protect standardization. Akhism is seen as the consequence of the service lacks of the state such as supplying security to the individuals, to their properties and to their honor; altering communication and education system, and providing equality of rights where there is not a strong juridical system. It is said that in Anatolia, Turkish people shaped and developed Futuwah organization and formed Akhism which is more different than Futuwah and which is proper to Turkish people. Although Futuwah tradition was more authoritarian about religion; and was commanding to the artisans to obey to the Islamic authority; Akhis had a big deal at the issues of economy and politics besides the morality. While Futuwah tradition gave more importance to the individual virtues and military characteristics; Akhism was an organization which helped Ottoman State to put military and administrative institutions in order and which constituted artisan and craftsmen corporations (CaÄÅ ¸atay, 1989: 1). The contribution of the guild system in the Ottoman States foundation period may not be despised (Belge, 2005:312). In Anatolia, the foundation of the Akhi organizations was the result of political and socio-economical necessities. At the 13th century, Turks who arrived in Anatolia from Turkestan for escaping from Mongolian invasion formed craft and commercial organizations among themselves to protect their solidarity and to survive amongst the native Byzantine craftsmen. They thought that they could exist only if they sell high quality and standard goods, in a sense by improving their own craft and commercial organizations. The organizations adopted the futuwwatnamas religious and moral rules as their laws and this led to the foundation of Akhism with the leadership of Akhi Evran and Abul-Hakaik Mahmud. Later, Akhi organizations were divided into 32 main branches of trade or art and fixed 740 Principles in their futuwwatnamas to form the moral and religious life. Every Akhi had to know 124 necessary Principles (Cagatay, 1989:48-51). According to Koprà ¼là ¼ (1984), the artisans who were members of these organizations had to obey to the strict moral rules. There were strong moral and solidarity ties among the members. Besides to protect their common interests, they were organized to provide moral control to each other in their all kind of worldly activities (economic, social). This statement shows us that Akhi organizations were important controlling mechanisms. Every branch of craft which was joined to an Akhi organization was recognizing a superior Protector and was accepting a chain of Protectors for the trade (for the tradesmen). The organization of Akhi was set up independently in each town and villages. But, they maintained their relationship with other towns and other villages. In each branch of Akhi organization which is a guild organization, Akhi Baba was the chairman of craftsmen of the guilds situated in the region (ÇaÄÅ ¸atay, 1989: 201). Fuat (1977) said that in 14th century, as Akhi organizations played a part in structuring military and administrative institutions of Ottoman state and in organizing social life within the society, to be a member of these organizations was accepted to be honored. There were also sultans who were Akhis such as Orhan Ghazi, Sultan I.Murat. Ottoman state was supporting Akhis and was providing them some privileges. In his book of â€Å"Ahilik nedir?†, ÇaÄÅ ¸atay (1990) mentioned that Akhism was a multi-dimensional social organization. Its social roles may be grouped as below; To establish a hierarchical order based on four stages such as â€Å"errand boy† (à §Ãƒâ€žÃ‚ ±rak), â€Å"apprentice† (yamak), â€Å"qualified workman† (usta), and â€Å"master† in workplaces. Members have to be stayed a definite time in each stage to be educated. The ties between the members have to be sincere as the relationship of fathers and sons and the craft has to be based on strong moral and occupational basis Producers and consumers self-interests and relationships have to be organized in a way which will not cause any problem between them To establish an organization which provides meeting and guest houses in all cities and all villages. Fuat (1977) mentioned that Akhi Baba who was the chairman of the craftsmen (of the guild) of a region and who was democratically elected by the members was responsible of making the zawia built. His commands and his warnings had to be obeyed. They had the administration power where the Sultan was absent. Zawias were places where religious and moral books were read, where Akhis were enjoying with dance or music. This shows that Akhis were not only religious peoples. According to ÇaÄÅ ¸atay (1990), Akhi organization which was religion (Islam) based was a solid occupational and moral system. Their solidarity and their helping each other within the Akhi organization caused their superiority over the non-Muslims artisans and craftsmen. This situation continued until the second half of the 15th century. Belge (2005) said that when the society began to put its own rules; guilds had been transformed to social strata and they had lost their autonomy and authority; and they became limited to the production function. ÇaÄÅ ¸atay (1989) mentioned that Fatih Sultan Mehmed eliminated their political and moral power in the cities because of their expanded authority in the empire. The original Akhi spirit has been lost among the Ottoman craft-guilds by the end of 16th century, and they became occupational organizations which impose discipline to artisans and craftsmen. They lost their autonomy and became bound to the local representatives of c entral government (qadis) and then, qadis had the authority to choose Akhi leaders (Akhi Babas). According to Sencer (1999), although they hold some economic privileges and a degree of control over their members and production, they lost their autonomy and their administrative power. ÇaÄÅ ¸atay (1989) said that some craft branches rejected heavy regulations of the state and state tolerated some of them because of their importance to the economy. Thus, some craft-guilds such as leather and shoe trade could continue their occupation and they preserved their rules and their Akhi Baba tradition. So, we may say that when the state guaranteed its power, took the authority back from the Akhi organization and this caused the end of the privileges of Akhism. Guild was a typical medieval organization system; it was a conservative organization with its own logic. As their production was demand based, they had not a market problem. They had not an aim to expand their market. Although it was acceptable to have some qualified workmen (usta) who were seen as better and who were preferred for some needs; guild organization and logic behind it was preventing competition between craftsmen, especially in economic issues. This equality was functioning as law thanks to the fear of being opposed to the ethical rules which were accepted to be represented by their pir (who had started their craft work and who is thought to be a prophet) to whom they had a strong commitment (Belge, 2005:313). Esnaf (artisan) was the plural of the word class. At these times, in every war and expedition, there was a group of artisan and prostitutes who were moving with the army for logistics and some services. Evliya Celebi who had the best writings about the Ottoman guilds said that in 17th century; there were also thief and pickpocket guilds. He explained that this situation was not astonishing by saying in pre-capitalist times; Ottoman State was ordering people to be a member of an organization, to be in solidarity with the other members in this organization; and to be under the surveillance of this organization for having the right of free circulation in the city (Belge, 2005:313). This shows us that Akhi guilds had a responsibility to shape social life in cities by taking control of their members. After the 17th century, as Ottoman Empire was expanding to the new lands and as the non-Muslim population was increasing, the number of non- sectarian occupational organizations augmented. In this situation, Ottoman state wanted to erase the distinction between Muslims and non-Muslims. By a reform in 1727, guilds became reorganized within a new system called gedik which was not so different than the Akhi occupational organization in terms of the working process. But, what was different was that in gedik, there was not religious differentiation. Gedik meant monopoly and privilege. State had taken the authority of electing the person who would be the chairman of the guild. Therefore, guilds had lost their initiatives outside the state. Thus, guild was choosing the candidates and the state was electing them (Belge, 2005:313). According to ÇaÄÅ ¸atay (1990), state began to fix the number of masters within all trades (meslek). Somebody outside the gedik could not perform the same craft of this gedik independently or could not sell the goods produced in these gediks according to the rules of the state. The state took the authority of giving mastery licences from the guild. State established gedik system for increasing central authority over the guilds. As the Muslim character of the guilds disappeared when the guilds became open to the non-Muslim artisans, the meeting place of the guild members of the Akhi organizations which was zawia was no more a meeting place for guild members. In these times, when non-Muslim could establish their own guilds, the new meeting place became lonca. Gedik type work organization which began in 17th century continued until 1860. As there was a monopoly rule at gediks, without a necessity, the number of workshops was not changed by the state. This meant that the number of workshops was stable at a number decided by the state. In gedik system, nobody could open a shop without getting his mastery licence from the state and also, they could not perform their skills. Monopoly rules aim was to prevent changes in numbers of craftsmen at the city, to obstruct the tenants to increase the rents, to impede the performance of craft outside the gediks and to protect the system of being educated in the gedik, starting as errand boy (ÇaÄÅ ¸atay, 1989:111-118). So, state took the control completely. In the 19th century, after the declaration of Tanzimat Command in 3 November 1839, Ottoman State made trade treaties with foreign countries. Liberal economy of the foreign countries based on laisser-faire obliged Ottoman State to eliminate traditional monopoly over the craft and the trade seeing that monopoly rule was damaging the development of craft and trade and also, was causing states increased economic dependency to the Europe. Thus, the gedik system and all monopolies were abolished in 17 June 1861 with the command of Abdà ¼lmecit. The traditional craft-guilds continued until the Second Constitutional Monarchy period next to the newly established modern occupational associations. As the capitalist economy gained access in Ottoman State, traditional craft-guilds lost their all power and IttihatTerakki rule let this organization to create modern chambers as esnaf odalarÄ ± in 1910 (ÇaÄÅ ¸atay, 1989:216-217). The Akhi organization is considered to be the basis of todays some institutions such as Esnaf Chamber (Esnaf OdasÄ ±), Trade Chamber (Ticaret OdasÄ ±), labor unions, BaÄÅ ¸-Kur, Turkish Standarts Institute (Tà ¼rk StandartlarÄ ± Enstità ¼sà ¼) and municipality (oztà ¼rk, n.d). Looking Akhis mode of dressing, according to ÇaÄÅ ¸atay (1989), they were not wearing silk clothes; they were not using gold ornaments. Because, in Islam, silk and gold were forbidden for men to use. Their turban (sarÄ ±k) was 5-6 metre. Their clothes were at the colors of blue, white, black and green. In zawias, guild members were learning Koran, Sufism, the languages Turkish, Persian, Arabic; they were dealing with history, literature; and also, they were learning how to cook, how to play game, how to play an instrument. Every Akhi organization had its own flag. In every craft-guild, there was mà ¼tevelliwho was taking care of every kind of problems about their craft. He was controlling private and occupational life of the members; he was organizing ceremonies of â€Å"errand boy†, â€Å"apprentice†, â€Å"qualified workman†, and â€Å"master†. ÇaÄÅ ¸atay (1989) said that every craft guild had 2 kinds of members such as internal (dahili) and external (harici). Externals were retired and disabled members. Internals were divided in to 4 groups: Errand boy: He has to be younger than 10 years old. His presence to work had to be provided by his father or his protector (veli) Apprentice: After working for 2 years without wage, errand boys were promoted to the apprentice position with a prepared ceremony. In these ceremonies, master was mentioning his solidarity and talents. The chairman of the ceremony was giving advices to the child about not lying, not leaving his ritual worship (namaz) and continuing his solidarity to the shop, being respectful to his parents; to his qualified workman and to his master. Chairman was deciding a weekly wage to be given by his master. Qualified workman: He has to be apprentice for 3 years. Ceremony was done in craft-guild. This day, he was wearing for the first time the clothes belonging to his craft branch. His master and other 3 masters were witnessing about his good morality. Chairman was giving necessary advices. Master: He had to be qualified workman for 3 years. There shouldnt be any complaints about him. He had to be peevish about educating errand boy. He had to have good relations with apprentices; he had to have a strong commitment to his craft. During his ceremony of being master, chairman was mentioning which prophet was the pirof their craft, and he was giving advices about doing the trade honestly, being respectful to other craftsmen and customers and being merciful to the public. At these times, education was not the responsibility of the state. Therefore, at these times, religious rules were the basis of the society. In Akhism, religion was the main point. Akhi organization was trying to make adopted a well-behaved (ahlà ¢klÄ ±) life to the craftsmen. Akhis were saying that if in this world, they would have a well-behaved lifestyle, in the other world (in ahiret), they would be rewarded by the God, by pointing Koran. In Akhi organizations, it was learned to gain money honestly without making any tricky act. It was learned that the money which they have been gaining had to be permissible (helà ¢l). Craftsmen had to give priority to his craft more than everything. Craftsmen believed that their pir who had first started their craft was a prophet. Thats why, on every shops wall, there was this couplet (ÇaÄÅ ¸atay, 1989:157): â€Å"Her seher besmeleyle aà §Ãƒâ€žÃ‚ ±lÄ ±r dà ¼kkanÄ ±mÄ ±z Hazreti . dir pirimiz, à ¼stadÄ ±mÄ ±z† Important Akhi rules What they have to do Eli aà §Ãƒâ€žÃ‚ ±k olmalÄ ±: He has to be generous KapÄ ±sÄ ± aà §Ãƒâ€žÃ‚ ±k olmalÄ ±: His door has to be open SofrasÄ ± aà §Ãƒâ€žÃ‚ ±k olmalÄ ±: His dining table has to be open What they should not to do Gozà ¼ kapalÄ ± olmalÄ ±: He has not to be plotter Dili baÄÅ ¸lÄ ± olmalÄ ±: He has not to say any bad words Beli baÄÅ ¸lÄ ± olmalÄ ±: He has not to dishonor anybody According to Cumbur (1975) cited in Tà ¼rk Esnaf TeÃ…Å ¸kilatÄ ±nÄ ±n kuruluÃ…Å ¸u ve Denizli, Akhism had four principles such as: Kuvvetli ve galipken affetmek Hiddetliyken yumuÃ…Å ¸ak davranmak Dà ¼Ãƒâ€¦Ã… ¸manlÄ ±Ãƒâ€žÃ… ¸Ãƒâ€žÃ‚ ± dostlukla, kotà ¼là ¼Ãƒâ€žÃ… ¸Ãƒ ¼ iyilikle karÃ…Å ¸Ãƒâ€žÃ‚ ±lamak Kendi ihtiyacÄ ± varken elindekini baÃ…Å ¸kasÄ ±na vermek In this project, my subject was Akhism as a guild system in the Ottoman Empire. I tried to answer my research question which is â€Å"the effects of the guild organizations norms to the craftsmens process of production†. Firstly, I defined the world Akhism and its origins. Than, I mentioned its role and its importance in the society, I talked about its foundation, its development, and its weakening reasons. I stated its control mechanisms and the reasons of the decline of their control in the society. I expressed the reasons behind the change of the system (gedik). I indicated its work organization (errand boy, apprentice, qualified workman and master), the norms within the organization and the effects of the norms to the guilds production process; and lastly, I also denoted why Akhi organization was removed. I think that I could answer to my research question. In this project, my argument was that the norms of the guild organization were mainly shaped by religion. I saw that my argument was true. Because, in Akhi organizations, religion was the main point and the norms were based on futuwwatnamas religious and moral rules (Islamic Futuwah traditions laws); and also, a well-behaved lifestyle was ordered to craftsmen to be rewarded in ahiret by the God. To sum up, in this project, with the aim of analyzing the effects of the guild organizations norms to the craftsmens process of production and with the aim of verifying my argument, I made a literature review on Akhism. I gave detailed information about Akhism starting from its foundation until its removal, including its importance, its organization, its norms and its roles in the society.

Schizophrenia Essay -- Schizophrenia Essays

Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that Encarta (2001) describes as an illness that results in delusional thought patterns, hallucinations, and inappropriate effect. It literally means â€Å"split-mind’, but is not a multiple personality disorder. According to DSM-IV (1996) schizophrenia is categorized under the diagnostic code, ICD-9-CM or International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification of 295.xx. Symptoms of schizophrenia can be positive, which occur during the active phase, and negative, which are present before the onset of the disorder. Positive symptoms of the disease include delusions of grandeur (a belief that one is a famous admired individual), delusion of control (when they believe something wants to control them), delusions of broadcasting (belief that another can read their minds or their thoughts are being aired on the radio), delusions of persecution, and thought withdrawal (belief that their thoughts have been removed from thei r brain). Negative symptoms include anhedonia (the inability to feel pleasure), alogia (disorganized speech), and flat affect (when the individual does not show any emotion even in situations that strong reactions are expected). According to the DSM-IV (1996) one must fall under these explicit categories in order to be diagnosed with schizophrenia: A.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Characteristic Symptoms: Two (or more) of the following, each present for a significant portion of time during a one-month period (or less if successfully treated): 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Delusions 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Hallucinations 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Disorganized speech (e.g.. Frequent derailment or incoherence) 4.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Grossly disorganized or catatonic behavior 5.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Negative symptoms, i.e., affective flattening, alogia, or avolition Note: Only one Criterion A symptom is required if delusions are bizarre or hallucinations consist of a voice keeping up a running commentary on the person’s behavior or thoughts, or two or more voices conversing with each other. B.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Social/occupational dysfunction: For a significant portion of the time since the onset of the disturbance, one or more major areas of functioning such as work, interpersonal relations, or self-care are markedly below the level achieved prior to ... ...mily members of the sick individual as most schizophrenics are released into their family’s care. It helps the family members learn to see â€Å"early warning signs† of probable relapse as well as different methods of problem solving. Self-help groups are for both the schizophrenic individual as well as their families. These groups are not led by professionals, but rather are groups of schizophrenics and their families leaning on each other for psychological support. Works Cited American Psychiatric Association (1996). Diagnostic Criteria from DSM-IV (4th ed.). Washington, DC: Author. (1, 22, 23, 147-152) â€Å"Schizophrenia†. Encarta Encyclopedia(2001). Ireland: Microsoft Co. Searles, Howard F. (1956). The Effort to Drive the Other Person Crazy-An Element of the Aetiology and Psychotherapy of Schizophrenia. New York University School of Social Work-Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment. 133-148. Taylor, Edward H. The Biological Basis of Schizophrenia (1986). New York University School of Social Work-Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment. 51-57. National Institute of Mental Health. Schizophrenia (1999). Retrieved from http://www.medhelp.org/NIHlib/GF-359.html

Gullivers Travels :: essays research papers

Gulliver’s Travels   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the novel, Gulliver’s Travels, Jonathan Swift addresses many things wrong with the society around him. His portrayal of English society shows how much he saw evil in it. He mainly addressed five issues throughout his book: war, government and politics,economy, society, and mankind as a whole.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Lilliputians uncover the idiocracy of war in our society. The Little-Ender and Big-Ender war all started on the debate of which way to break an egg. It didn’t matter that the entire reason of the war was ridiculous--no one knew that reason. They just fought because they knew that they fought long ago, and guessed that it should have been for a good reason.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Gulliver himself even showed the absurdity of war when he explained the reasons England would fight to Mistress or the Queen of Brobdingnag. His justifications to fight were simply because the enemy was weaker and they wanted more land. This shows Swift’s sympathy for Ireland at that time.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Swift believed that politics and government were games. The “election'; of “leaping and creeping'; of the Lilliputians was the basis of choosing their government officials. The government was ran with people that could go under or jump over a stick. The entire notion of classes and ranks seemed to be stupid to Swift.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The island of Brobdingnag portrayed Swift’s idea of a perfect society. Everyone was equal, and everyone got an equal share. There were no taxes and everyone got a say in how to deal with problems that arose.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When Gulliver explained English society to the queen of Brobdingnag, she no longer regarded the little man with wonder. She proclaimed that the crimes of his society were lying and swindling, and the English were horrible vermin. When Gulliver decided to show the queen a wonder of his society, he seemed to further alienate himself because he showed her the destructiveness of his world.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Swift probably knew that having knowledge was power. But the impractical seeking of knowledge was of no use to him. At the Academy, professors would stay inside for years at a time, letting nature outside go to waste. They would ponder different ways to perform simple tasks and looked for answers to questions that hadn’t any. They did not take a thing of nature as God intended it, rather they took it apart and analyzed it.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Swift saw humankind as evil, as portrayed in the life of the Houyhnhms and Yahoos.

The Birthmark :: essays research papers

Response Paper #2: 'The Birthmark'; 1. Our society tends to be obsessed with the idea of physical perfection. How does our society manifest that obsession? How is the 'Birthmark'; an early version of our modern obsession with physical perfection? Our society has many ways of manifesting its obsession with physical perfection. In our society people go to extreme lengths to achieve perfection. The 'Birthmark';, written more than a century ago, is an early version of our modern obsession with physical perfection. Society manifests its obsession with physical perfection by having surgical procedures done on daily basis. These surgeries allow for almost any cosmetic transformation. For example a person can have anything from removing a birthmark to inserting breast implants to having a tummy tuck done on their body. Society manifests their obsession with physical perfection by having these procedures done to them. These procedures enable society to achieve 'perfection';, much like Georgiana in the 'Birthmark';. In the 'Birthmark';, a story that is more than a century old Georgiana and her husband Alymar are searching for physical perfection, much like we do today. In addition they manifested their obsession with physical perfection much like we do today. Georgiana was born with a crimson birthmark in the shape of a hand. This birthmark was on her cheek. One day Georgiana discovers that this birthmark 'shocks'; her husband and he is deeply bothered by it. Georgiana finally realizes this after Alymar says 'Georgiana . . . has it ever occurred to you that the mark upon your cheek might be removed?'; After discussing the birthmark several times with her husband, a talented scientist, Georgiana decides to have it removed by him. It is never stated in full detail exactly how Alymar is going to remove this birthmark, we assume that it will be a surgical procedure. At one point in the story Georgina says to her husband 'If there be the remote possibility of it .

Avoiding the Alignment Trap in Intormation Technology Essay

An alarming pattern has surfaced in that many companies are concentrating on alignment and are finding that their performance is either declining or moving sideways. Companies are focusing on the wrong solutions with respect to their Information Technology problems, resulting in severe bottlenecks to growth. Companies need to learn how to break out of the trap and build IT organizations that allow for growth rather than obstruct it. Companies will need to be committed as doing so will require a continuous effort. The essential goal for these companies in order to succeed is to move IT into the upper-right quadrant, where they will be highly effective and highly aligned, and where IT appears to be enabling growth rather than inhibiting it. In order to move in this direction, it is my recommendation that the companies begin by installing local area networks locally, as well as a central database stored on a server to connect to head office. This option is economically feasible, will improve local efficiencies and will allow the sharing of resources and records. I would also recommend that the companies begin feasibility testing to explore the implementation of an internal ERP system to support global operations in the near future. Doing this will help companies to keep up with the competition. Current Situation Companies are getting caught in an â€Å"alignment trap† whereas they are spending large amounts of resources towards being highly aligned and not realizing the importance of being highly effective as well. There are four quadrants within which companies are being categorized with respect to their ability to be effective. They are being measured based on the ineffectiveness as far as completing projects on time and on budget, and the ineffectiveness of alignment to an important business objective. The first of these quadrants is â€Å"alignment trap†. Despite being highly aligned, the companies within this group are less effective in completing budgets on time and within the budget. Charles Schwab & Co. is currently in this position and as a result, continues to spend money on projects and seeing no growth. The second quadrant is â€Å"maintenance zone†. Companies in this quadrant are less aligned to major business objectives but are maintaining below average levels of growth even though they are less effective and spending more in IT as a result. In this zone, IT is not performing well, is not valued and is segregated from the company’s main functions. Management is budgeting enough to keep the system running, but IT is not providing any added value to the business. Third is the â€Å"well-oiled IT† quadrant which can be categorized as second best. In this group, companies are highly effective at bringing projects in on time and on budget. They are more focused on execution. Still, companies are less aligned meaning that their IT group does not fully understand the priorities of the business and where to spend the resources. Lastly, the â€Å"IT-enabled growth† quadrant is where all companies would like to be. This quadrant encompasses those companies who are not only highly effective at making IT projects successful, but are also highly aligned in relation to their business objectives. Examples of companies who have succeeded in this respect are Nestle, Wal-Mart, FedEx and Dell. The following are IT-related issues that organizations are currently facing as they attempt to align their business goals with IT technology: – Believing that alignment is the solution to their IT problems, companies are spending enormous amounts of money without solving any problems. – Various divisions are driving independent initiatives, each one designed to address its own competitive needs, resulting in complexity of IT systems (no standardization). As a result, costs increase and the fragmented divisions make it harder for managers to coordinate across business units. – Complexity in systems is making enhancements to systems and improvements to infrastructures more and more difficult to implement and potential benefits are left unused. – Redundant applications that perform the same or similar functions. – Outsourcing the wrong activities. – Data in multiple information systems are viewed as â€Å"garbage† and producing inconsistencies (i.e. salespeople are promoting products that are discontinued) – In companies similar to Charles Schwab & Co. for example: IT staff response have become slow and expensive; IT engineers are spending more time fixing bugs in the systems than ever before; and several big and ambitious projects are overdue and preventing the company from being competitive. Criteria The following criteria will be used to evaluate each of the alternatives: – IT spending must be aligned with the company’s growth strategies (need to reduce IT costs i.e. savings on software licensing costs where bleeding money, and head count). – Must be shared ownership and shared governance of IT projects. – Need to reduce complexity (or emphasize simplicity). – Increase efficiency (doing things in a cost effective way with no duplication of time and effort). – Economically feasible. – IT infrastructure to support networked operations in multiple locations. – Need to centralize and simplify the IT functions. – Need high effectiveness to achieve an objective through the use of: 1. simplicity (or reducing complexity) – by implementing companywide standards, replacing legacy systems, building new solutions on simplified and standardized infrastructure; 2. right sourcing – choosing the right source for a capability and maximizing effectiveness while minimizing cost; and 3. accountability – executives should get the information they need to measure the progress of IT and IT people should be held accountable for outcomes. – IT needs to be reliable, without excess complexity, and needs to deliver projects consistently with desired functionality, timing and cost. – IT systems need to run smoothly and reliably. – IT functions such as architecture and infrastructure need to be balanced with respect to the needs of the entire organization and those of individual businesses. – Need a good governance structure so as to set parameters to keep an organization on track (i.e. no more than four new technology releases per year).

Importanceof Knowledge Based Reporting

In order for journalist to effectively integrate the aforementioned procedures and come up with substantive articles while covering a news story, they have to be well informed and knowledgeable. In writing news articles that concern various aspects of the economy or the business sector, journalist should at least have some background information on how the economy works. This will enable the journalist to come up with accurate and informed explanations and analysis of the subject being covered.In addition, being knowledgeable will enable the journalist draw a connection on the economy and how it affects or relates to the audience. Another example where journalist are required to be knowledgeable is in writing business related articles. In this case, journalist may be required to interview a professional in the field of business. The journalist needs to have some knowledge in this filed in order to know the questions to ask (Sack, 2012). In writing features, journalist who are not kno wledgeable and well versed with the subject they re addressing are vulnerable to manipulation by the sources they use.For instance, experts and professionals that journalist interview may not be passionate about the pursuit of knowledge or they may have their own agenda they are trying to advance. Having some knowledge in the basic concepts pertaining the issue being addressed could be helpful in questioning and raising skepticism on the answers provided by the respondent (Sack, 2012). Works Cited Sack, J. (2012). Journalism. New York: Metropolitan Books / Henry Holt and co.

Gossamer Book Report

Gossamer Plot Gossamer begins with the protagonist, Littlest being taught how to give people dreams by her instructor Fastidious. Littlest’s childish and playful nature annoys Fastidious greatly. At their home, the Heap, Fastidious complains about her student to Most Ancient, who is the leader. Most Ancient and Fastidious decide that Thin Elderly will become Littlest’s mentor. Littlest is part of a small colony of dream-givers. Through touching, they gather fragments such as colors, words, sounds, and scents. They then combine the fragments to become dreams, and give the dreams to humans, and sometimes pets.The giving of dreams is called the bestowal. Thin Elderly explains to be gentle in the touching and not to touch too deeply, because a dream-giver who picks up bad fragments of a memory becomes a Sinisteed, a horse-like creature who inflicts nightmares. Thin Elderly gladly discovers that Littlest has the â€Å"gossamer touch†, the ability to gather and bestow gently. An elderly woman and her dog Toby live in the house Littlest and Thin Elderly are assigned to. The woman decides that she is going to take an eight-year-old boy named John into her household. The social workers describe him as â€Å"angry. Another dreamgiver, Strapping, is assinged to give dreams to the boys mother. She was an intelligent woman, but was forbidden to participate in social and intellectual events by Duane, her abusive ex husband. John was taken away from her because it was not a good environment for a child. When John arrives at the woman's home, he acts violent and angry. The woman acts kind and tries to be understanding. At the dream-givers' Heap, Most Ancient reports that the Sinisteeds are gathering, intent on a particular victim. That night, Littlest and Thin Elderly hear a Sinisteed enter through the walls of the house. It inflicts John with a nightmare.He cries out in his sleep, and the woman calms him by reminding him of a happy memory. after, Littles t and Thin Elderly gather comforting fragments to help strengthen him after the nightmare. During the day, john’s mother talks on the phone, asking to have a receptionist's job and salary. She tells the listener to tell her son that he will be back home soon; that she loved him; and that she dreamed of him last night. H That night, Littlest decides she must touch the dog, trying to get fragments from him. Thin Elderly protests, because they aren’t supposed to touch living creatures, but allows her to do so.Littlest notices how attatched John was to a pink seashell, to Toby, and to a chrysalis he had found.. She gathers fragments from Toby, and bestows them as part of a dream. Thin Elderly is proud of Littlest's bestowal, because John is happy in his dreams. Littlest explains that the fragments she collected had a bit of a story in each one, which she put together in her mind. Johns mother begins working a school. She reflects on how bad her old life was for her son, Jo hn, because of Duane. She has hope now of making friends, which Duane had not allowed her to do. Strapping is satisfied with his work.Strapping discovers he has a liking and a hope for the woman. Accordingly he gives her dreams of hope, and of a future with her son. John tells a story to the woman about a young boy who ate dog food, because he had been ordered to by his father, who had seen the boy run naked through the house and pee on the floor. The father had accused the son of acting like a dog, and gave him dog food for all his meals. The woman realizes that John is telling a story about himself, explaining his past abuse. T That night, Littlest and Thin Elderly discover that a Horde of Sinisteeds are going to give nightmares to John and the woman.They respond by bestowing strengthening dreams. They are nearly killed in the stampede of the Horde. That is the story's climax. John begins school, and has become a much happier child. Littlest is given a medal for her work. She is t old that she is to be reassigned. She wishes to remain assigned to John, whom she has come to love and cherish, but is told that dream-givers are not allowed to feel human emotions. Littlest One's experience with the boy has helped her grow more mature, and as a result she is given the name Gossamer and given a new dream-giver, New Littlest One, to train.

Music and Magic in the World of Arda

MUSIC AND MAGIC IN THE WORLD OF ARDA In Tolkien’s legendarium, magic as it appears in contemporary sword-and-sorcery stories does not exist. Tolkien makes it clear in essays and debates that his magic is far more complex than the waving of a wand, and does not follow strict, clear-cut rules. Instead, power over the laws of nature and reality lies to a great extent in song and music.The first act of creation in the â€Å"Ainulindale†, by which the foundations for Arda’s creation were laid, was the singing of the Music of the Ainur by Iluvatar and the divine beings beneath him. When the beings of Arda create song, the result is often ‘magical’, whether in an emotional sense or if it has a tangible effect upon the world around it. In both the â€Å"Ainulindale† and â€Å"Of Beren and Luthien† this is quite evident.Singing in Tolkien’s legendarium is in some ways a magical act, in that any of the Children of Iluvatar engaged in it ar e reflecting the original creative acts of the Ainur, sub-creating and greatly affecting the world around them, and that the only limits on a being’s ability to create music are its purpose – whether to dominate or to create – and the sheer force of will it places behind its magical, musical intent. Singing has a variety of effects within Tolkien’s works, but the most dramatic ones by far are those visible in the â€Å"Ainulindale†.Here, singing is synonymous with creation itself. The notes of the many Ainur, including Melkor, as well as those of Iluvatar, all coalesce in order to form the basis for Arda and its history. The act of song-making as creation is not metaphorical: the Ainur originally conceive of the world through music, and the voices of the Ainur are even described as â€Å"like unto harps and lutes, and pipes and trumpets, and viols and organs, and like unto countless choirs with words† (Tolkien 4).Even the conflict between Il uvatar, who seeks to create a world of beauty and freedom for its future inhabitants, and Melkor, who seeks to dominate all that is, is done through their respective melodies. No music existed before that of the Ainur in their acts of creation, and although a great deal of music existed afterward, none was ever as powerful or influential in shaping the world, as the passage reads â€Å"Never since have the Ainur made any music like to this music† (Tolkien 4) This original music created the first true polarization between good and vil – through the conflict between Iluvatar and Melkor – and initiated the creation of the world. The fact that the Music of the Ainur created the world itself is no less visible than when Iluvatar declared â€Å"behold your music! † and the Ainur first saw the world (Tolkien 6). In fact, all later music stemmed from this music, in that the Music of the Ainur set the stage for the genesis of all Children of Iluvatar and the music they would go on to produce. The effects of song are equally as visible, if not quite so dramatic, in the tale of Beren & Luthien, particularly through Luthien herself.Throughout the story, many of Luthien’s actions revolve around music and song. When Beren first sees her, he is spellbound by her appearance, and it is not until she sings out loud and â€Å"flowers [spring] from the cold earth where her feet had passed† that he is released from his shock enough to call out to her (Tolkien 194). Her music is also powerful enough to put the great wolf Carcharoth, as well as Morgoth himself in Angband, to sleep. In addition, it aids her and Huan in combating Sauron at Tol-in-Gaurhoth.Finally, her heartfelt song of sorrow at Beren’s death at the end of the tale proves moving enough to warrant restoring Beren to life, and allowing Beren and Luthien to spend their final, mortal years together in peace. Indeed, it is stated that â€Å"The song of Luthien before Mandos was the song most fair that ever in words was woven, and the song most sorrowful that the world shall hear† (Tolkien 221). She is not the only character who uses song to great effect, however. When King Felagund and Sauron battle in the dark lands of Morgoth, they duel with words and songs of power rather than physical weapons.Felagund fights with inspirational songs, harkening up images of â€Å"trust unbroken† and â€Å"resisting†, while Sauron utilizes songs of â€Å"treachery† and â€Å"betrayal† (Tolkien 201). Sauron proved more powerful however, and once he defeats Felagund, the others are entirely helpless against him. In these particular stories, the greatest singers are either connected to the Ainur, or are Ainur themselves. This point is fairly obvious in the case of the â€Å"Ainulindale†, in which all participants of the Music were Iluvatar’s â€Å"Holy Ones† , but is also quite evident in â€Å"Of Beren and Luthie n† (Tolkien ). There, Luthien is half-Maia as the daughter of Melian, and her power is extraordinary for a Child of Iluvatar. She proves capable of contending with a fallen Valar, a powerful Maia, and a vicious beast-servant of Morgoth through her skills with song. Sauron himself is also quite skilled in the art of song as a Maia, and in a duel with a mortal he â€Å"had the mastery† (Tolkien 201). The reason for the magical superiority of the Ainur is quite simple: they were involved in the original music of the world.They were originally formed by Iluvatar for the express purpose of creating â€Å"in harmony together a Great Music† and through it the world, and so it is far more natural to them (Tolkien 3). Although Luthien herself has no experience with true creation, as Sauron and her mother do, she nonetheless has the blood of a being that was essentially created for song, as Melian also sprang from the mind of Iluvatar for the purpose of creating the world. By no means are all great singers in Tolkien’s world Maiar however, or even those related to them, as the example of Felagund illustrates.While Felagund may not be able to best a Maia such as Sauron, he is still able to compete with a Maia for what appears to be the majority of their conflict, and it is outright stated that â€Å"the power of the King was very great† in the conflict (Tolkien 201). He lacks the experience and inborn purpose for song that any Maia would possess as a being originally born to create Arda, but he remains a force to be reckoned with, and he is unquestionably more powerful through his skill with song than most other characters in the tale.It is clear, then, that force of will and drive can – to an extent – mitigate the difference in natural ability between a Child of Iluvatar and an Ainu. Luthien’s exemplary skill with song in the latter half of the tale may have thus been influenced by her drive to help Beren and the â €Å"weight of horror† that her love caused her to feel at the possibility of his death (Tolkien 202). The act of song-making in the â€Å"Ainulindale† is, at its core, an act of creation.What is present throughout â€Å"Of Beren and Luthien† however – and, for that matter, all other stories set in Middle-Earth during the First through Fourth Ages – is sub-creation. Just as Iluvatar created the Ainur originally for the purpose of creation, the Children of Arda and those that Iluvatar would – humans, elves, hobbits, and dwarves – were made to sub-create. In other words, they were meant to create even further, through art, literature, and above all, song. By attempting to emulate the song of creation, the Children would make the world even more vibrant, rich, and pleasant than the Valar had originally managed.Tolkien states in his letter to Milton Waldman prefacing â€Å"The Silmarillion† that for the Elves, magic is â€Å"Art, d elivered from many of its human limitations†¦Ã¢â‚¬  and â€Å"Art not power, sub-creation not domination and tyrannous re-forming of creation† (Tolkien xvi-xvii). The effect of song in â€Å"Of Beren and Luthien† was somewhat different. If songs made by the Valar were what originally brought about and shaped the world, then songs made by the Children could do the same, beyond merely in terms of producing music for pleasure’s sake.As exemplified by Felagund, a sufficiently strong, refined will could sub-create in a way that mirrored creation itself, and shape the world despite lacking the natural affinity for song that an Ainu possesses. What this evidence points to is a notion that at first may seem ridiculous: that the magical song-making of the Ainur and the Children are fundamentally exactly the same. The ability of several of the Children in â€Å"Of Beren and Luthien† to contend with Ainur in contests of power through song already lends credenc e to this idea, suggesting that the music created by the Ainur is the same, only greater.It would appear that the difference between the use of songs by the Ainur and the Children merely results from the inherently greater willpower of the Ainur. As beings that are not only older but are also â€Å"the offspring of [Iluvatar’s] thought†, their wills are considerably more refined and honed than those of the Children (Tolkien 3). Theoretically however, any elf, man, hobbit, or dwarf with sufficient mental discipline and/or training could make music as great as that of an Ainu.Thus, the closeness to the natural world and ‘magic’ of the elves is simply a consequence of their having spent more time amongst the Valar and within the world than the other Children, gaining more competence with song and closeness to the musical skill of the Ainur as a result. In addition, the ability of Melkor to overpower the songs of the other Ainur in the â€Å"Ainulindale† resulted from him having â€Å"been given the greatest gifts of power and knowledge† and resulting musical affinity, and that greater force of will alone was that set him apart (Tolkien 4).The two sections being discussed point to one other significant notion: that there is an inherent difference between the music produced by the Children and good Ainur, and the music produced by the Dark Powers of Morgoth. The â€Å"Ainulindale† indicates that the Music of the Ainur was initially harmonious, with â€Å"endless interchanging melodies woven in harmony† (Tolkien 4). It was only once Melkor, desiring to overpower and control the course of the Music, decided to interfere, that the Music became disjointed and violent.Eventually, Iluvatar himself steps in, at which point it is clear that the melodies of Iluvatar and Melkor are diametrically opposed, and that only Melkor’s music â€Å"hath not its uttermost source in [Iluvatar]† (Tolkien 6). The music o f the other Ainur, which was harmonious with that of Iluvatar, was gentle, melodious, and pleasant. Melkor’s music was violent and aggressive. To an extent, the musical conflict between Felagund and Sauron in â€Å"Of Beren and Luthien† mirrors this, though in that case Sauron’s aggressive, spiteful song proves victorious due to his superior will.While the songs produced by the forces of good and evil are somewhat similar, their basic nature and purpose – to create, and to dominate, respectively – are polar opposites, and the dominative nature of evil is the source of the violence and cacophonous nature of the songs. Indeed, Tolkien’s statement of the Elves’s magic as â€Å"Art not Power, sub-creation not domination†¦Ã¢â‚¬  in contrast with that of Melkor and Sauron, supports the notion that the nature of their magic – and this applies to all other forces of good as well – is irreconcilable with that of Melkor and his minions (Tolkien xvi-xvii).In the â€Å"Ainulindale†, as well as â€Å"Of Beren and Luthien†, Tolkien reveals the true nature of magic and song: in his world, they are synonymous. While there may be major differences in the fundamental nature of the songs used by good and evil, only force of will and purpose make the song of an Ainu such as Morgoth any greater than that of a half-Maia such as Luthien, or a mere elf-king such as Felagund. Keeping these conclusions in mind, one may reach a single, overarching definition of magic in Tolkien’s works: an act of musical creation or sub-creation with enough force of will behind it to tangibly affect the world.There is no need to understand the mechanics of music in the legendarium, only that any being is capable of it and that it is the source of all magical acts. Truly, the significance of song in Tolkien’s work, especially for the purpose of understanding the magic of the world and the nature of the confl ict that spans the entire legendarium, cannot be overstated. WORKS CITED Tolkien, J. R. R. , and Christopher Tolkien. The Silmarillion. 2nd Ed. Del Rey Books, 2001. Print.

Gambling and crime Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Gambling and crime - Essay Example The gambling industry entices people to try gambling in order to get them hooked and become addicted and the industry knows full well the consequences of an addiction. A former lawyer of John Ascuagas â€Å"Nugget† embezzled $3 million for his gambling habit and in another case, the accountant of a doctors clinic stole some $2.3 million from her employer to feed her habit of buying lottery tickets, as much $6,000 per day. She had pleaded guilty and was charged with a second-degree grand larceny. As it becomes an addiction, some decent, reasonable, respectable and rational people are really tempted to steal money and also commit other far more serious crimes like murder for their gambling addictions. Gambling involves taking the odds or probability of a certain outcome to be occurring. Gambling can take many forms such as horse racing, card games, table games, slot machines, dog racing, sports betting (boxing, basketball, soccer, etc.) and even on the Internet. Some forms of gambling are considered tame or mild in nature such as sweepstakes, lotteries and bingo games because the bet amounts are not very large although prizes can get very big. There are warning signs of a gambling addiction and people should be made aware of them. Planning a future action is a healthy attitude. This is the same principle involved when businessmen and investors go into business in order to earn money. This speculative attitude generates investments and jobs such as in the form of insurance contracts (fire, auto, marine, flood, etc.), life annuities and the modern and very complex forms of contracts like financial derivatives and stock options. The futures market in agricultural commodities is a very good example of gambling based on speculation but minimizing the risks involved. However, this paper will explore and discuss the troubling issues associated with types of gambling in the strict sense of the word. This paper looks at the problems generated by the uncontrolled urge

Evaluating Fashion and its Impact on Individuals Essay

Evaluating Fashion and its Impact on Individuals - Essay Example The essay "Evaluating Fashion and its Impact on Individuals" analyzes the influence of Evaluating Fashion on Individuals. Fashion has been used as the resource by individual for the purpose of construction of their identity and positioning themselves at a higher place in comparison to other. Fashion has an important role to play in articulation of ethnic identity in relation to the contemporary setting in routine life ethnic identity just like other types of social identity. It is not considered to be real and essential, but actually it is a multi faced phenomenon, which is different at varied places and time. An imperative factor, which is helpful in construction and articulation of ethic identities with the help of fashion, is cultural displacement. In relation to force, which is exerted for the purpose of relocation to different parts of world because of slavery, poverty, religious and political persecution, etc. have been very helpful in marking out a new space for cultural prefe rence in terms of fashion. Along with this, the advent of globalisation has also been a key factor, which has influenced the lives of young people. There has been a debate over the change in fashion patterns because of globalisation. Late modernity, which is a period representing the disjunction between the communities and securities of modernity and the realities of post-second world war has been highly influence by the trends of fashion industry. At the time of 1970s, the research undertaken by Dick Hebdige.

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Strategy Adopted by an Organization Is a Consequence of the Match between the Organizations External Relationships and its Internal Capabilities - Essay Example The researcher states that a mismatch between the internal capability of an organization and its strategies may to some extent contribute to less than optimal output and input ration in an organization. The accessible research findings have confirmed the existence of a very close relationship between an organization’s internal capabilities, the organization’s strategies, and the organization’s external relationships. In most cases, organizations that have the ability to balance between their internal capabilities and their strategies have competitive advantages over institutions that formulate their policies without considering their internal strengths and weaknesses. As a result, the analysis of the company’s internal liabilities, resources, weaknesses, and strengths are essential in the strategy formulation process. Sufficient examination of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats facing the business is as exceptionally decisive in devising the organization’s strategy. The objective of a strategy should be based on the company’s weaknesses and strengths. In planning for the organization strategy, the strategists should also consider the institution’s entrepreneurial problems and administrative problems. In most cases, strategies and organization’s internal capabilities reinforce each other in the success of an organization. A successful organization selects management systems that are in line with its strategies. Moreover, entities with several adjustment levels employ different strategies to match with their internal capabilities. As a result, business entities that have high-level of adjustments reveal organic structures and prospectors plan while business entities with low-level adjustment use mechanistic structures and defender strategies. In most cases, organizations strategists identify a unique approach to its marketplace before structuring an organization strategy that fits the identifi ed market approach.

Energy Efficient Food System Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Energy Efficient Food System - Essay Example Form this explanation; it is very clear that any food system is affected not only by environmental factors but by also social, political and economic factors play a major role. (Michael Webber, Scientific American: â€Å"How to Make Food System More Energy Efficient† Jan 2012) expresses this point by looking at: 1. How food-energy relationships are changing. 2. What ways of food production are over utilizing the available energy, how they do it? 3. Ways of improving the food-energy ratio. According to the article, there has been an increase in the demand for energy especially fossil fuels and diverse countries are trying to fight this demand but are overlooking the food system as a major user of energy. There are certain farming methods which eventually lead to more energy being used to utilize food than that which we get from that same food. Evidence shows that there is a 10.1 ratio of energy input to food output and more energy is used to preserve and prepare food due to the use of more machinery like tractors. The author expresses optimism in improving this ratio, for example, he suggests stopping using corn kernels for starch-based ethanol as this seems like a process of interfering with nature. Conversion of agricultural waste like manure into products of power is another way to curb entering into the energy-danger zone. This can also provide vital nutrients to livestock and make more food available to us, for instance feeding of livestock by algal biomass will enable there to be more corn as food for humans thus less energy used for food production. Drip irrigation are among other pilot methods that have been used successfully not to mention improving our behavior like reducing food wastage and dietary options of eating lesser portions of food will go a long way in improving the 10.1 ratio. The high population increase in the world means a greater demand for food and thus higher demand for energy to produce this food. Some areas which were seen as non-agricultural areas for instance great deserts, were improved so as to be agricultural but there is still high energy consumption through transportation and irrigation and this does not solve this problem. Such a situation is described in instances where more energy is used to make food than that given out by the same food. There are instances where plants only convert less than 2% of solar energy into stored energy which is consumed by animals which are then consumed by humans and is again stored as glycogen instead of being given out. After thorough review of past experiments done by experts, the author believes that there is still hope in improving the 10.1 ratio. From studying researches done, it is clear that if the Americans stop using corn kernels for starch-based ethanol, they will be able to produce up to 15 gallons of corn-based feed-stocks which can be used as feed for both livestock and humans. Other ways of doing this are through; Use of cellulose sources for energy instead of food-based sources Conversion of agricultural waste into power using anaerobic digesters Using carbon-dioxide from smokestacks at coal plants to grow algae for food. Implementing agricultural techniques which have been perfected in pilot diagrams will also reduce the 10.1 ratio. For example drip irrigation creates less water wastage than sprinkle irrigation, in states like Iowa, researchers say

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Critically Evaluate the Progress (or otherwise) Made with Regard to the Implementation of the Coroner and Justice Act 2009 - Essay Example Sections 54 and 55 of the act establish a new partial protection to murder of loss of control, to reinstate the existing partial protection of aggravation, which is revoked by section 56 of the act. Section 57 makes minor modifications to the law connected with the offence/protection of infanticide. A coroner is a government bureaucrat who examines the death of the humans, finds out the reason(s) of death, issues certificates of death, maintains records of death, reacts to deaths in mass tragedies, recognizes the unknown and unidentified body of the deceased, and various other functions on the basis of local laws. At the same time, local laws describe the cases of deaths a coroner must examine, but most frequently they consist of those that are unexpected, unforeseen, and which have no general practitioner to attend, and deaths that are doubtful or aggressive. Registration fees and death tax have major impact on this case. Chapter 5 of the Coroner and Justice Act 2009 talks about the provision regarding the death and investigation. Under this, Schedule 5 builds provision regarding powers of senior coroners and also at the same time the Coroner for Treasure. Schedule 7 builds provision regarding fees, allowance, and expenses of the case. ... (2)The amount of the fees is to be whatever is agreed from time to time by the assistant coroner and the relevant authority for the area. (3)The fees to which an assistant coroner for an area is entitled under this paragraph are payable by the relevant authority for the area† (Coroners and Justice Act 2009). Prohibition of Fees: Except as the certain circumstances permitted by or in the act a senior coroner, part coroner or any assistant of the coroner may not admit or admit any payment or fee regarding anything done by that concerned coroner in the specific performance of his or her duties and functions. Public reaction to the changes in law has guided to numerous interesting circumstances on what is to be considered competent of constituting aggravation. â€Å"The new law is a major shift in government policy and one towards gender equality, but many people have had concerns that these new laws would also allow the courts to be more lenient towards woman that kill abusive hu sbands by now allowing women who suffered from â€Å"slow-burn† to be able to use this defense† (Mubin 2012). Public reaction to the changes is to develop the accuracy and quality of the death certification in England and Wales. It will help to deliver a service that is gave attention on the requirements of bereaved people. Medical Examiners were constituted by the particular Act 2009, to offer better examination of certification of death, more precise data on reasons of death, suggestion to Coroners, and to help input of appropriate information to the clinical governance systems of the health service. The Department of Health is presently running numerous pilot

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Social media and Business Communication and Advertising - Essay Example This paper illustrates that social media has become a major part of business promotion strategy. The trend in marketing and advertising is moving towards social media. Business marketing and promotion are moving from the traditional media such as television and print media. The social media offers businesses, big and small, a range of advantages that can be useful for the purposes of ensuring that the business benefits the most from its investment is marketing and promotion investments. Social media offers the business a range of services that are useful in business and brand promotion. To begin with, it can be useful as a way to give the customers a personalized communication platform. Businesses can respond to customers’ requests, queries, and communication on a one-on-one basis and this can be very useful in creating customer satisfaction. In this regard, social media offers a way for the business to be able to communicate on a personal level with the customers. However, be ing able to take advantage of the social media platform is not an easy fit for the businesses. Only those businesses that are able to come up with a well-laid social media strategy are able to benefit the most from the social media platform. In this case, businesses must be able to know how to take advantage of the social media to be able to take home the benefits. In fact, businesses that are unable or that refuse to take advantage of the social media end up suffering.

The Startups. Ability to be organized, communication and self Assignment

The Startups. Ability to be organized, communication and self awareness - Assignment Example One of the commonest animate expectations of organizations and business is what has been referred to in management as organizational traits and characteristics. These organizational traits and characteristics have been found to be very important in the organization, growth and development of businesses. Indeed, as much as it is important for organizations to possess organizational traits and characteristics during all aspects of the growth cycle, one stage of growth that this these organizational traits and characteristics affect organizations most is at the early and startup stages (Goedhuys & Sleuwaegen, 2009). Generally, the organization’s traits and characteristics can make or unmake its subsequent growth fortunes. In this paper, four important organizational traits and characteristics that can help the new business in Brazil growth and succeed in the competitive market are discussed. Ability to be organized The startup company assumes the description and name of an Ã¢â‚¬Ë œorganization’ perhaps because it is expected to be well organized. By organization, reference is being made to the ability of all structures within the organization to be well laid and accurately assigned. The structures of the organization would best be described as the various responsibilities that are expected to be delivered within the organization and the people who are expected to deliver them (Batjargal, 2006). For startup companies, managers and entrepreneurs should have the ability of knowing all the roles that are expected to be played within the organization and the people who can best play these roles if assigned to. Another component and aspect of ability to organize has also been identified to be the organization of organizational needs. Generally, it is when the needs of the organization are well organized that the best structural organizations needed to bring about the achievement of the needs will be identified (Capelleras et al, 2010). As to how this trait and characteristic of ability to be organized is more likely to bring about success, it will be said that without a good organizational skill, it is likely no one would be comfortable doing business with the new company. This is because in order for investors and other stakeholders to trust their affairs with an organization, they must have a level of guarantee that the organization itself is well organized. As the maxim goes, a blind man cannot lead a blind man. Effective communication with people around Communication is an important aspect of startup companies. It has been said that entrepreneurs and investors who start up businesses newly must be in the position to effectively communicate with those around (Benzing, Chu & Callanan, 2005). Generally, the ability to effectively communicate the visions, needs, dreams, and ideas of the new business to people around represents the degree to which the visions, needs, dreams, and ideas will be supported by those around. Meanwhile, no si ngle person is able to singlehandedly man any serious organization into growth and supported. It is therefore important that entrepreneurs will have the capacity of rightly communicating to others to gain support. It must be noted that support for an organization’s growth and development comes in many different forms including financial, logistics, and human resource. Even in cases where the head of the business is not able to rightly let his human resource base know what is expected of them in the growth and development of the company, the human resource will not be empowered much enough to do the

Carbon, Phosphorus and Nitrogen Cycles Essay Example for Free

Carbon, Phosphorus and Nitrogen Cycles Essay The carbon cycle starts with the reservoir of the carbon dioxide in the air, the carbon atoms move from carbon dioxide through photosynthesis into atoms of organic molecules that form the plants body. These carbon atoms are then further metabolized and are eaten and turned into tissue that all organisms in the ecosystem use. Half of the atoms are respired by the plants and animals and half are deposited back into the soil in the form of dead animal and plant matter, which are eaten by decomposers and transformed back into carbon dioxide. Humans impact this cycle because we are removing so much of the photosynthetic efforts of the plants in order to support our enterprises, we are â€Å"diverting 40% of the photosynthetic productivity of land plants to support human enterprises,† (pg 67). Two examples of our harmful tendencies are burning fossil fuels which has increased atmospheric carbon dioxide â€Å"35% over preindustrial levels,† (pg. 67) and logging. These both are being used naturally by the ecosystem and the lack of these resources causes stress and strain to keep the balance. At the rate it is going carbon to complete its cycle from the atmosphere through one or more living organism and back to the atmosphere happens about every 6 years. The phosphorus cycle includes the cycle of all the biologically important nutrients found in the natural minerals. These elements include iron, calcium, potassium found in the rock and soil minerals in the lithosphere. Over time a rock breaks down and releases phosphate (PO43-) and other ions which replenish phosphorus that is lost due to runoffs and leaching. The phosphate is absorbed by plants and turned into compounds that are moved through the food chain. Humans impact this cycle because we are using the phosphorus to make fertilizers, animal feeds, detergents or other products and mining these locations. Our water systems are being damaged because â€Å"human applications have tripled the amount of phosphorus making it to the oceans,† (pg 68). This is a problem because it causes over fertilization or eutrophication of the aquatic ecosystem. The waterborne phosphorus cannot be returned to the soils this causes too much bacteria or algae in the water and kills of the fish and other water mammals. The nitrogen cycle is similar to the carbon and phosphorus cycles; because it has a gas phase like carbon and can also be a limiting factor such as phosphorus. The main form of nitrogen is in the air â€Å"which is about 78% nitrogen gas (N2),† (pg 68). The plants change the nitrogen into organic compounds which are necessary like proteins and nucleic acids. Humans impact this cycle because many of our crops are legumes or nonleguminous. Legumes like peas, beans provide the bacteria a place to live and a source of food and receive nitrogen in exchange, where it enters the food web. Nonleguminous crops such as corn, wheat, potatoes and cotton have to be heavily fertilized with nitrogen’s from industrial fixations. The over fertilization of nitrogen into the soils are destroying lakes, ponds and forests. However our actions are more than doubling the rate which nitrogen is moved from the atmosphere to the land, â€Å"nitric acid has destroyed thousands of lakes and ponds and caused extensive damage to forests,† (pg 70). Humans have a great impact on all three cycles. If it continues the way that we are using fossil fuels, and destroying the land as we are currently are. We are depleting our resources at a faster rate than we can sustain naturally which is causing harmful living conditions which we may not necessarily feel the repercussions of immediately.