Meaning of life †2006 singles Essay

Have you ever wondered what the meaning of life is, the purpose of our existence. Life is truly a mystery we know very little of our own selves. Something beautiful as a life is something amazing to watch. A life is considered priceless. Life is a treasure among treasures. I consider it a miracle that I am alive and talking to all of you today. The chances of me being here is 1in 5 million, and yet I am here. The same goes for all of you present here today. All of us should feel blessed that we get to experience the privilege of living. The miracle of life begins with the love of two people because of this love a life is created. One good thing leads to another. They’re maybe time that we are challenged, but we should never yield instead we take these challenges as an opportunity to grow in life. If somehow you fall all you need to do is simply stand up again and again. Life is not just a bed of roses we need to fight for what we want and stand for whatever we believe in. Don’t be afraid to encounter risks. It is by taking chances that we learn how to be brave. Don’t shut love out of your life by saying it’s impossible to find time. The quickest way to receive love is to give; the fastest way to lose love is to hold it too tightly; and the best way to keep love is to give it wings. Don’t run through life so fast that you forget not only where you’ve been, but also where you are going. Don’t forget, a person’s greatest emotional need is to feel appreciated. Don’t be afraid to learn. Knowledge is weightless, a treasure you can always carry easily. Don’t use time or words carelessly. Neither can be retrieved. Our generation is so attached to technology that we become like machines. We spend so much time on our gadgets that we fail to notice the things around us. We fail to see the beautiful world around us. Living is not simply eating and breathing is if we spend so much time on our cell phones and playing computer games then we were never alive in the first place. Our life is the greatest gift we are given. The memories we make with our friends and family. We laugh, cry, love and hate these are the proof that we are truly alive. Each and every one of us is irreplaceable all of us are one of a kind. Don’t think of your life as something insignificant maybe just by the act of living you are making someone happy. There is one thing to remember Life is not a race, but a journey to be savored each step of the way.

An Undisputed Social Issue in The Philippines Essay

Poverty is a state of being poor, indigence, lack of material things and finances. Poverty puts people into the lowest level in a society. Poor people, most of the time, are neglected by the government, shunned by the society and not given enough opportunities to prosper. They live in a filthy environment, living among a community of criminals. We can enumerate countless of unpleasant words to define the effect of poverty, and there are countless of reasons and causes for these. Poverty remains the central development issue in the Philippines and, despite the ambitious development goals laid out by the government, the country has not been able to sustain the economic growth required to reduce poverty to acceptable levels. Why Poverty Remains a Social Issue in the Philippines First, there is a fundamental disconnect between Filipino elites and the poor. The political leadership in the Philippines has always been drawn from those elites, and those politicians have traditionally played the role of patrons and benefactors, relying on the pork barrel and personal/family funds (often acquired through corruption) to essentially buy votes. â€Å"The core principle of democracy – that representatives should be drawn from those they represent and advocate for the true interests of their constituents – has not been operative† (Abueva, 1964). Philippine Presidents in particular have been drawn from the ranks of the wealthy and privileged. How can they relate to what it means to be poor or hungry? Even if their heart’s in the right place (which is not all that common), well-photographed visits to squatter settlements are not the answer. Second, the Philippines system is exceedingly politicized. President Arroyo herself is already focused on the 2004 presidential elections. In a sense, you can’t blame GMA. Her predecessor, Erap, had a built-in constituency among the masa. But President Arroyo must create such a base, given that she is the daughter of a previous President and has virtually nothing in common with the poor people of her country. Look more:  problems of scarcity essay She has worked hard to develop support among the common folk, dressed in jeans with regularity, and sung on stage with popular recording artists. She has also latched onto fighting poverty as a key policy emphasis. In her State-of-the-Nation (SONA) address on July 22nd, she emphasized the so-called â€Å"rolling stores† – trucks loaded with subsidized rice, rice, sugar, and canned meat that ply the streets of Manila – as a sterling example of her administration’s anti-poverty programs. The only problem was that her remarks had knowledgeable economists practically rolling in the aisles, given that few poor people ever get access to the trucks and only 5% of the nation’s poor live in Metro Manila. But real poverty alleviation programs where they are most needed – say in rural Mindanao – would lack the publicity opportunities of the rolling stores on Manila streets. Additionally, several other studies list down the primary causes of poverty in the Philippines in terms of economic state: 1. The basic economic problem in the Philippines is inefficient and very low incomes. 2. The finances of the Government had become steadily worse and were not critical, The Treasury had a large and mounting deficit with taxes covering little more than 60% of the expenditures. 3. The country had an excessive volume of imports. In the meantime, the volume of exports was less than before the war an d could be expected to grow only gradually. 4. There had been inequalities in the level of income of people. While the standard of living of a great segment of the population remained below that of the pre-war level, the profits of businessmen and large landowners had risen considerably. Under the circumstances, the continued rise in the prices of commodities tended to transfer real income from the poor to the wealthy and; 5. The inefficiency and corruption in the government led the people to lose their faith and confidence in the ability of the government â€Å"to protect the interest of all the people. † The result was demoralization of the people. According to history, â€Å"the destruction of the national economy as a result of the war posed serious problems of subsistence and of peace and order† (Agoncillo, 1990). In such circumstances the leaders if the nation could only rely on the United States for financial and other material aid. The hundreds of millions of dollars given t the Philippines by the United States in the form of cash and surplus properties were used to rehabilitate agriculture, commerce, trade and industry. Some of it, however, went to the pockets of dishonest officials. There were marked increases in the gross national output and income, but the cost of living, as a whole, continues to soar or, at least, to remain static on the basis of the immediate post-liberation years. At the same time, labor grew and continues to grow, demanding increases in wages and better living conditions. The total picture of the national economy has improved, but the improvements are not sufficient to bring down cost of living, which has remained one of the highest in the world. Agricultural production – The destruction caused by the last war told heavily on the productive capacity of the people and their standard of living (Agoncillo, 1990). With financial help from the United States, however, the government, in the first ten years of the Republic, had succeeded in at least partially solving the minor economic problems. Thus, for instance, crop production from 1946 and 1956 increased from 3, 507, 200 metric tons to almost double the amount of 6, 274, 900 metric tons. This increased production was the upshot of the expanded area planted to food crops and the application of improved means of increasing the yield per hectare, such as the use of fertilizer, irrigation, the use of better seeds, and the effective use of chemicals against plant pests and diseases. Production of export crops also increased tremendously from 315, 000 metric tons in 1956, with copra and sugar leading all export crops. Other exports like abaca, tobacco and their by-products have not so far completely recovered from the effects of the last war (Martin, 1999). However, some are blamed upon the things done by irresponsible individuals from high to low profile individuals such as population growth – some Filipinos believe that it is natural for every married woman to bear a child in their wombs because they are with their husbands (Friedman et al. , 1977). And this are very wrong beliefs since if you will be reasonable enough, you will realize that having a child is always together with great responsibility that has no end. And that you will realize that having more and more children will cause great scarcity in your family such as you would not be able to send your children to school and you would not be able to provide enough foods so that you children will be healthy and do good in school. Population growth is also the reason for a number of malnourish children in the Philippines. Unemployment is also a very common cause of poverty in the Philippines since there are several Filipinos who are unemployed plus the fact that there are many companies that are affected of the global economic crisis. And the least thing that you can do about unemployment is to find a best way on generating money like you can accept laundry services, plumbing services, or electrical repair services if you are skilled enough to do the job. Then, you could start a certain profitable business like food house or a small store that does not require you much capital so that you will not find it hard to save enough money from the services that you are offering. Governance concern is still deemed as one of the main reasons of poverty in the Philippines because of the activities of the corrupt government officials. They are using the money of the people to achieve the power and authority that they wanted to have and once they have it they will automatically take advantage of their power to the point that they will neglect the yoke of the people and set aside their promises when they are just campaigning and try to convince the people to vote for them. Agricultural problems also pose as the natural cause of the poverty in the Philippines because of the wrong activities of people. They ruin the treasure of the nature for their own sake without any idea that the nature they are destroying is the main source of almost all the products that exist in this world. Some of the examples of destroying the nature are the irresponsible disposal of wastes and trash, dynamite fishing, illegal logging and more. Another cause is said to be disability – this is also one of the possible causes of poverty in the Philippines since more and more people nowadays become disabled because of several illnesses and diseases that arise like AH1N1 virus, SARS, dengue, and more. Disability may be also caused by uncontrolled population growth, for instance, you have ten kids in the house, and can you imagine attending to their needs everyday? Well, definitely not so the tendency is that they are prone to accidents that will cause them to be disabled since they are at very young age that are typically playful. Starvation has also been one of the primary effects of poverty in the Philippines. Eating is necessary for us to survive. As humans we need to eat three times a day or more. Unfortunately, not all of us can afford this kind of living. Many people, children and families in this world, suffer from hunger due to lack of finances for their everyday needs. Based on the record of UNICEF, more than half of the children all over the world are malnourished. Most of them came from countries that are less abundant. Apparently, research shows that education has also been a problem in the Philippines. It is not prioritized by the government because only the privileged can have access to basic education in the sense that most of the children in the Philippines could not afford the needs of a student such as food, clothing, school materials and even fares used for transportation. There are also schools which offer free education like the government schools and private schools which accept scholarships, but still, lack in financial support is their main dilemma. These are just some of the reasons why most of the students from different levels take education for granted. Instead of going to school, they spent their time working in order to help their families make a living. The masses have multiplied extremely. Increase in opportunities for employment has not yet overcome the rapid increase in population, resulting in the multiplication of the number of jobless proletariat. When one considers that a large number of school children become â€Å"school orphans† that is, they leave school before or after finishing Grade IV, and that they eventually become peasants or laborers, one ceases to wonder why the base of the triangular structure of society has widened considerably. The strong contrast between the upper classes and the lower classes is that the former are earning more and more and the latter less and less. In other words, the distribution of wealth is one-sided as to make society top heavy. In the country’s present situation, the economy of the Philippines is struggling. The government has a huge debt from the World Bank and those money which the government borrowed where not used in projects which could alleviate poverty but were where lost to corruption. That’s why many Filipinos blame the government for the slow progression of our country. The Philippines was even given a tag as one of the most corrupt countries in Asia. Many people also blame the government because regardless of scarcity that all of us are experiencing, the government still manages to increase the prices of the merchandise in the markets. Conclusion True anti-poverty programs take a long time to bear fruit, and the politically-driven nature of Philippine government sector programs almost ensures that the emphasis will continue to be on quick fixes or interventions that provide high visibility and political payoffs (Warner & Harris). This is unfortunate given the seriousness of the situation and the implications for the country if concerted action is not taken. Poverty and malnutrition are already at alarming levels in this country, and the country’s too-rapid population growth is magnifying the strain on limited budgetary resources. The rapidly growing population is jeopardizing the quality of basic social services, contributing to the ongoing decline in quality of basic education, and limiting access to health care (especially primary health care, reproductive health/family planning, immunization, and feeding programs). Achieving any significant reduction in poverty will require rapid economic growth, growth of a magnitude not seen in recent years. Further, addressing issues of inequality will require significant investments in human capital, especially in improving the quantity and quality of primary education. The result of such unbalanced development of society is discontent and grave social problems such as poverty. The extreme poverty has given rise to starvation in some communities an to criminality, The unequal distribution of material possessions, in which the rich wlallow in wealth and the poor in filth is one of the reasons for the rise in criminality. Poverty has alos given rise to a new class known as squatters. References Abueva, J. V. Bridging the Gap Between the Elite and the People in the Philippines, Philippine Journal of Public Administration, October 1964, pp. 325-347; Agoncillo, T. V. (1990). History of the Filipino People Eighth Edition. (pp. 503-512. ) Quezon City: Garotech Publishing. Faith, R. (1996). Poverty, A History Of. Journal of Rural Studies, 12(2), 212-214. Friedmann, B. , Coy R. , & Wilson, L. (1977). Emergences: Gender struggles for livelihood in Latin America. Los Angeles: UCLA Latin American Center Publications, University of California. Martin, A. A. (1999) Philippine Land Reform: Perpetuating US Colonial Policy. Philippine Studies, Volume 47, Second Quarter 1999; Warner, J. , & Harris, R. (n. d. ). Problems with poverty in third world countries. In M. B. Duran (Ed. ), Poverty and identity: studies in self and culture (pp. 39-58). Amsterdam: Daryl Benjamins Publishing Company.

A specific foreign culture Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

A specific foreign culture - Assignment Example That is to say that the paper will brief us on how different was communication in the past as compared to the present in terms of the reasoning and therefore give the outcome. These and many more will be featured in this research project. Culture can be said to be the communication system. It is the way people relate to one another in terms of customs and values. It is the focal point in terms of peoples’ relationship. What am saying is that culture brings people together and they are able to understand from each other, relate to one another and able to identify themselves from the rest of the groups. And in fact, Eric O. Ayisi in his book: Introduction to the Study of African Culture, defines culture as a sum total of the material and intellectual equipment whereby they satisfy their biological and social needs and adapt themselves to their environment (1). It is therefore the people’s practices and beliefs that differentiate them from others. On the other hand, interp ersonal communication is a close link in terms of passing of ideas between two or more people but within a small group. It is all about passing of information from one individual to the next with the view of enhancing fluent communication. The kisii people have got a culture that defines and give them identity. Their communication systems were arranged in such a way that hierarchical order was the determinant factor; that no information could be passed to the children without first reaching the elders from which the information would pass to the rest of the community members. This was to ensure that respect is in place and that the elders are much more experienced in community issues and any emerging issues can be easily dealt with by the elders than it could be done by women and children. Perhaps it is good to mention different ways through which information was passed for easy communication. First, we will look at how communication was done within the context of the family and the n communication within the community at large. The interpersonal communication within the family was very basic. As Owen Hargie puts it in his book: Skilled Interpersonal Communication: Research, Theory and Practice, communication therefore represents the very essence of the human condition (2). This is where every member of the family was required to keep in touch with one another. All male children were directly linked to their father and their counterparts, the female children linked to their mother. Not at any time one could break such a system. In fact, Scott Loveless and Thomas Holman in their book: The Family in the New Millennium: World Voices Supporting the "Natural" Clan, Volume 1 puts it clearly that the family is the exclusive social unity sanctioned to nurture the inborn, instill human behaviors, and ensure that human rules and laws spinning around emotions and interactions are respected (94). All male children were therefore advised by their fathers and the elders on t he task ahead of them. For instance, getting ready to take care of homestead at large or even getting prepared to be the warriors of the village. On the other hand, female children were advised by their mothers and the grandmothers on how to cook, fetch water and how to behave more especially in front of the elders and men at large. Children were there

HRM and Sustainability Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

HRM and Sustainability - Essay Example The research report explores the main aspects of HRM to drive future sustainability among organizations. The relationship between HRM and sustainability is extremely complex. Traditionally, HR contributes to organizations’ performance, by having HR policies aligned with the strategic goals of the organization, legal compliance, better customer satisfaction, and effective service delivery. Sustainability requires that HRM moves beyond the boundaries of traditional HR policies, toward leadership development, talent management, and knowledge management. The term sustainability is widely used in almost all sciences (Ehnert 2009). The notion of sustainability has already become a synonym of profitability and long-term development in organizations (Ehnert 2009). Apart from the fact that different organizations define the concept of sustainability in entirely different ways, the link between HRM and sustainability remains poorly understood. The body of research on Human Resource Mana gement and its relation to sustainability is very scarce (Wehling et al. 2009). As such it is high time to re-evaluate the topic of the HRM-sustainability relationship in more detail. The purpose of this research report is to explore the links between HRM and sustainability and propose recommendations to let organizations achieve sustainability through HRM. The significance of sustainability initiatives in organizations cannot be overstated. Researchers are becoming more interested in the relationship between sustainability and HRM.

Analytics, Interfaces, and Cloud Technology Assignment

Analytics, Interfaces, and Cloud Technology - Assignment Example However, the options and methods are critically examined helping the financial executives to deploy effectively. Once the procedures are scanned carefully the decision is made on the bases of available information (GRIFFIN & DANSON, 2012). Several organizations prefer to deploy analytics or a division of analytics capability through a method named as â€Å"Cloud†. The Cloud computing is not new in business organizations. For the past three decades, the remote access towards applications, platforms and infrastructure has been attached with the corporate of information technology operations and organizations (GRIFFIN & DANSON, 2012). Therefore, in recent years the difference is in the degree and effectiveness in which Cloud computing can be deployed. In addition, the Cloud computing operation means that the all applications, platforms and infrastructure of any organization must be managed by the third party. The advantages related to the Cloud include both cost saving as, well a s logistical benefits. Thus, these benefits are utilized by the organizations that are suffering from three trouble making forces that are joining along with other organizations. Moreover, on the global level; huge information, improved mobility and business oriented social media can change the way business is conducted in organizations. It is possible that the business rules are revised and the operations are re calculated that will affect the customer’s interaction with the organization. In modern days, many companies and other organizations are now realizing the importance of the Cloud for future strategies in the field of Information Technology. (GRIFFIN & DANSON, 2012) A recent Deloitte survey, Mid-market Perspectives: 2012Report on America’s Economic Engine reports that 40 percent of mid-market companies think that leveraging the Cloud will be an integral part of their ongoing IT strategy in 2012 and beyond. This is up 38 percent from 2011. In order to deal with the sudden increase of information, the demand is increased for the mobility options and the response of social media influence must recognize the prospective of the Cloud. How the CLOUD Control Distractions The most effective sources that influence customer’s sentiments and reactions are considered huge information, mobility and evaluation of social media that helps to estimate the user’s potential and interest towards information technology. But on the other hand, if it is for in business then it can be troublesome as usual. However, the financial executives can control the past and future operations and can construct a firm foundation that helps an organization in achieving their goals (GRIFFIN & DANSON, 2012). Cloud Computing Storage The storage of cloud computing requires a lot of space, in fact humongous data centers where data is collected and managed. These data centers pose several threats and security risk that may impact these data storage machines. The thre at may be from a professional hacker and also in the form of the cloud provider itself, if data is not adequately dealt with. A minor security incident or mis configuration can lead to a system failure or unavailability. For instance, in 2008, only a tiny corrupted bit integrated with a message that was used by the servers of Amazon’s Simple Storage Service (S3) that provide services of online data storage imposed a system shutdown for many hours (Talbot, 2010). Moreover,

Self Assessment Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Self Assessment - Term Paper Example ) says that merchandise budget planning accounts for inventory shrinkage by indicating deviation between budgeted loses and loses causes by stock theft. Every merchandise budget factors in inventory loses expected as a result of conventional damages during stock handling, losses from discounts and those from general sales activities. In this context, any substantial divergence between the planned loss and actual losses after sales will account for inventory shrinkage. Sales = $26,000, stock 1 = $100,000 and stock 2 = $88,000. Difference in stock value = $12,000. This value represents inventory shrinkage within a single sales period of $26,000. Additions to stock is given by; (value of stock 1/sales) Ãâ€" (sales - inventory shrinkage). Additions = (100,000/26,000) Ãâ€" 14000 = $53,846. Based on the formula GMROI = Gross Margin Ãâ€" (Sales/Average Inventory Cost). Gross margin = 46/100. This means 1.3 = 0.46 Ãâ€" sales-to-stock ratio. Therefore, sales to stock ratio = 2.8:1. In this case, the stock-to-sales ratio for 6 months = 2.8 : 1. In retail marketing, the concept of stock-to-sales ratio shows the relationship between the quantity of inventory in stock and the amount of sales. In August, there will be a high stock-to-sales ratio as compared to that of September. According to Toomey (2010), a high ratio in August means that substantial value of capital is tied up in inventory with little sales. On the contrary, September comes with significant sales; hence the ratio reduces as inventory value melts away due to increasing sales. This rule helps retail managers to acknowledge the fact that approximately 80% of sales will come from 20% of the entire stock. On the contrary, 20% of the stock levels will cause 80% of the losses incurred during sales. According to Toomey (2010), the Pareto rule helps retail managers to focus on only 20% of the inventory levels. This rule should serve as a reminder that managers should focus on controlling inventory levels of fast-selling

How Technical Communication Textbooks Fail Engineering Students Assignment

How Technical Communication Textbooks Fail Engineering Students - Assignment Example However, the textbooks used by students are not able to address the issue, as engineering students find themselves to remain limited to established formats, which are meant mainly for students going for humanities based courses. The prescribed technical communication textbooks provide the advice to engineering students for such communication details. However, the information and tools mentioned in these textbooks do not match with the standards required in meeting the engineering or scientific knowledge, which these students gain from their professional courses. The areas covered by these textbooks include the use of active and passive voice, which is more oriented towards humanities. The other major concern refers to citation formats, which are not compatible with engineering studies. The books do not have enough instructions for presentation methods regarding data visualization and research papers, on technical matters. There is little evidence in the textbooks that can provide guidance on arguments and evidence presentation, which is the major requirement for all engineering students who want to become successful technical writers. There is enough evidence that passive voice is necessary to report certain technical details. Most technical communication textbooks prescribe MLA, APA and other citation formats, which favors writing on humanities subjects. However, textbook by Beer & McMurray is the only book that discusses the engineering citation style, IEEE. These books must have enough information regarding interpretation of data and making a conclusion about scientific studies. The learning methods explained in these books must aim at presentation of â€Å"bottom line† conclusions, which are properly highlighted and emphasized. This would help busy readers capture the important aspects of the presented data. In addition, the presentation of data in the form of tables and figures must support the bottom line conclusion. The books must have

What is meant by conservative vs. non-conservative amino acid Essay

What is meant by conservative vs. non-conservative amino acid substitutions in a protein, what are the possible implications of each, including a possible impact upon nutrition - Essay Example On the other hand a non conservative amino acid substitution brings about a change in the protein. There is a remarkable change in the position, shape and other attributes of the amino acid arrangement. Non Conservative amino acid substitutions result in changes in the protein which can be described as mutations. Occurrence of mutations may cause malfunctioning of the protein (Krawczak, 48). Many chemical changes cause damage to the DNA. There are different mutations that affect the functioning of the gene in different ways. Because of this abnormalities in body and blood function such as sickle cell anemia can be witnessed. Mutations can block protein synthesis, disrupt transcription and splicing, produce protein products that are truncated, and generally disrupt the functioning of proteins (Krawczak, 47). Mutations affect the functioning of red blood cells so that transportation of oxygen to the cell becomes very difficult. Body nutrition is therefore adversely affected (Chasman, 6 90). Chasman Dennis. and Adams Ramney. Predicting the functional consequences of non- synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms: structure-based assessment of amino acid variation.  J. Mol. Biol.,307, 2001, 683–706. Krawczak Mariam., Ball Egler. Fenton Insar., Stenson Pardy, Abeysinghe Sam., Thomas Nick. and Cooper Dick. Human gene mutation database-a biomedical information and research resource.  Hum. Mutat.,  15, 2000,

Super Bowl Commercial 2014 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Super Bowl Commercial 2014 - Essay Example In less than ten seconds, each scene tells a story of a thousand words. There is no mention of the brand name or image of the Microsoft logo throughout the commercial until the very end of the commercial. I believe the commercial brings out the personality of Microsoft. Microsoft strives to invent and develop amazing computer software that caters for not only ordinary people, but people with specific or special needs also. Technology has made life simpler and better. Technology has made people’s dreams a reality and Microsoft is at the forefront of such initiatives. The Super bowl 2014 Apple Inc commercial a competitor of Microsoft known for its IOS operating systems and OS X computer software did not have such a creative well thought through commercial (O’Grady, 2014). The Apple Inc commercial concentrated on their product iPhone and not a broader perspective of what they are all about. The Microsoft commercial was far more superior in terms of quality and was able to market Microsoft as a brand that cares and not a brand that wants to sell only. My favorite spot in the Microsoft commercial was a scene showing a small girl jumping up and down and screaming from seeing her father probably through Skype. It brings out the aspect of how technology builds relationships. The Super bowl Microsoft Commercial 2014 was

Biology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 17

Biology - Essay Example There were no fossils available at this time to make comparisons or linkages. As a result what was available was visual and the comparison was made to gorillas and chimpanzees which included bonobos. Authors and researchers A. C. Wilson and V. M. Sarich wrote that quantitative comparisons made of serum albumins, transferrins, hemoglobins, and DNA show that man is more similar to African Apes than to old world monkeys. They argued that the inference made by some regarding monkeys to men is not correct. (Wilson, Sarich 1088) This argument is made well simply because the original argument made by Darwin as Dawkins points out was in favor of Apes and chimpanzees versus monkeys. Additional support for the theories originally postulated by Darwin abounds as a result of the use of DNA. Dawkins address’s the various fossils and skeletons found, Ape Man, Java man, Peking man and more and debunk the creationist approach in this regard. He does make it clear that he respects the creationists approach regarding the use of arguments that are not valid, though his disdain for them shines through in the surrounding texts. Though the argument against the missing links has valid points, the author Dr. Marvin Lubenow makes it clear that the fossil presentations can be called into question simply because they cannot be definitively shown to be human or of human ancestry. (Lubenow 10-17) Dawkins continues to place what is known and accepted ahead of these arguments however, and shows that some of the more lurid attempts to challenge the fossil records are not based in science but in popular belief. As we read through the next two chapters we are quickly made to see that some of the more normal arguments made against evolution truly are baseless. One argument for which Dawkins quotes a brilliant response is the argument that man could come from a single cell. The response is swift

Songs of the 50s Essay Example for Free

Songs of the 50s Essay Songs of the 1950s Songs of the 50s In this paper I will research and identify 5 songs of the 1950s and what the songs reflect about the culture, mood, and values of the 1950s and the ethnic groups the artists came from. I will also discuss how accurately the songs reflect the mood, value, and perceptions of the 1950s as discussed in our readings, Nation of Nations. â€Å"All I Have To Do Is Dream† The first song I would like to address would be: â€Å"All I Have To Do Is Dream,† by the Everly Brothers. This song reiterates the basic ideology of the 1950s associated with â€Å"the good life. The song offers a neat synopsis of the mood, values, and perceptions of this era, for example, the song states â€Å"only trouble is, gee whiz, I’m dreamin’ my life away†¦. † This quote shows the leisure time available to Americans, it also reflects the time of hope during this era. The song also reflects a strong sense of optimism, confidence, and overall comfort afforded by this era. This song also seems to echo the general sentiments of the time in terms of the open attitudes toward sex with some of the romantic lyrics. Since the baby boom initiated during this era the lyrics to the mood and values are represented in the lyrics above. Since America emerged from World War II, in this era this song reinforces the American Dream. The song gives the mood and perception of happiness at having a secure job, owning a house, etc†¦ â€Å"A Lot of Livin’ To Do† â€Å"A Lot of Livin’ To Do† by Sammy Davis Jr. , Mr. Davis represents both the African American and Hispanic races and this song’s lyrics also embody the era because of the references to the â€Å"good life† with â€Å"And there’s wine, already for tasting. And there’s Cadillac’s, all shiny and new. Gotta move, cause time is wasting. There’s such a lot of livin’ to do. † These lyrics indicate the era because it was called â€Å"the culture of consumption. † The Americans experienced a large scale of spending during this time period. The song’s reference to fancy cars shows that consumer’s values definitely dominated the American economy and culture during the 1950’s. A Combination of Lyrics Through my research for this assignment I found several songs that reflected the moods of this era that did not relate to the â€Å"good life† that I would like to touch base on. My Captain† by Muddy Waters clearly reflects on the issues of the difficult working conditions for an African-American man in a big city. Their lyrics reveal racial undertones as well as the tensions and divisions within America at the time. Two other lyrics that I felt were important regarding this e ra was â€Å"Korean War Blues† and â€Å"Eisenhower Blues† by J. B. Lenoir. These songs reflect the political strive associated with containing communism during this era and the political paranoia underlying the times. The connection to the mood, perceptions, values, and politics are found in the words from the song â€Å"Korean War Blues,† â€Å"Lord I got my questionnaire, Uncle Sam’s gonna send me away from here; Lord I got my questionnaire, Uncle Sam’s gonna send me away from here; He said J. B. you know that I need you, Lord I need you in South Korea. † These lines reinforce the fear and the paranoia associated with the Red Scare and containment. Yakety-Yak The final song on my list is â€Å"Yakety-Yak† by The Coasters, this song again reflects on the era’s carefree attitude and the triumphant mood of democracy in a light way. It was also a time for teenage rebellion due to the introduction of rock-n-roll. Many adults, parents, and teachers opposed rock and roll as an emerging genre and form of social protest. The lyrics of this song exemplify the generation gap and strain as the kids were fighting for freedom from the adults, â€Å"Don’t you give me no dirty looks, your father’s hip, he knows what cooks, just tell you hoodlum friends outside, you ain’t got time to take a ride, Yakety yak, don’t talk back. † Conclusion Through the course of research for this paper I learned a great deal about the moods, values, perceptions, and politics that were expressed through songs. Even though some of the songs reflected a casual happy life style there were also the songs that reflected the imperfections of the era. This was a difficult time due to the war ending, desegregation was taking place, and it was also the time of the baby boomers. Through the songs of the 1950’s I discovered that many artists were able to vocalize their own point f view on the events of the era. References: Resource Readings: Davidson et al. : Nation of Nations, Third Concise Edition, Volume II  © The McGraw? Hill Companies, 2002 Lyrics Depot:  © 2008 LyricsDepot. com. All Rights Reserved. Retrieved February 10, 2008. http://www.lyricsdepot.com/the-everly-brothers/all-i-have-to-do-is-dream.html http://custom-essay-cheap.com/songs-of-the-50s/ http://www.biography.com/people/muddy-waters-9525002 http://timshorrock.blogspot.com/2005/01/down-in-mississippi.html http://www.metrolyrics.com/yakety-yak-lyrics-the-coasters.html

Characters Compared to Celebrities Essay Example for Free

Characters Compared to Celebrities Essay Tom Buchanan is the husband of Daisy Buchanan in The Great Gatsby novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Tom can be described as an extremely wealthy brute of a man. He is very athletic and successful. Tom is also very selfish, and he will do anything to get what he wants. In addition he has absolutely no shame in anything that he does and he thinks very highly of himself. Tom is very judgemental and often forces confrontation. These characteristics can be found in many spoiled and greedy celebrities, one of which is Donald Trump. Three qualities that we will examine between Tom and Donald will be greed, selfishness, and  I would think that Tom represents a Donald Trump figure. Toms fairly ostentatious state of being in the opening chapter is something akin to Trump. Additionally, Tom has no problem with the magnitude of me and the sense of his own superiority. Indeed, Trump is similar in that he has no shortage of faith in self. Where I think that their real connection lies in how they feel that their success allows them to parlay this into speaking with an air of authority on any subject. Tom has no basis or any idea to speak of the coloured people or the threatening of the White society. He holds no degrees of advanced study in this field nor does his theory even make logical sense. Yet, because he is wealthy and represents a sense of power, he is able to speak with absolute clarity, and presumes that others will take what he says as gospel, as if the law is being written as it is being said. Trump operates in much of the same manner. He believes that his insights on national topics are relevant because he is a success. He can publicly weigh out a run for the political office of President because of his success and his wealth. His ability to speak of issues such as 9/11 or Rosie ODonnell are only accepted, or entertained because of his wealth. In this manner, Tom and Trump are fairly similar.

Education Systems In Australia, Singapore And The Uae

Education Systems In Australia, Singapore And The Uae The primary goal of this project is not just to study, analyze and assess the currently prevalent systems of education being followed in Australia, Singapore and the UAE but also to be able to draw a comparative analysis citing the advantages and drawbacks of these in comparison to each other. For this purpose, it is important for us to understand what an education system of a country means and how they can vary with respect to each other. Education is defined as an act that is responsible for having a positive developing impact on the person indulging in it, not just on the mind, but the character as well as the physical and mental abilities of the individual. Education is a means through which the society in general is responsible for the transmission of all the collective knowledge set along with certain values and the acquired skill that has been accumulated over the generations. This makes education a sequential continuous process and therefore, different countries and societies and establishments employ different techniques as deemed correct and necessary by them to transmit this knowledge. Education system in Australia In Australia, education is considered by the system as the responsibility of the respective states or the territories as appropriate. The state governments are held responsible for being able to provide the funds for education as well as regulate and monitor public and private schools. The federal government, on the other hand, is engaged in funding the universities, which however set their own curriculum. In Australia, like in a lot of other places around the world, a three-tier based system or model is followed which comprises a compulsory primary education for all in primary schools, which is then followed up by a secondary education in secondary/high schools. The final tier in this system in the tertiary education in federal government managed universities or TAFE colleges across the country. The Australian system of education has been ranked at 6th for their Reading on a worldwide scale, on 8th for their Sciences and on 13th for their Mathematics also on worldwide scales by the Programme for International Studnt Assessment in the year 2006. Also, Australia has been listed as 0.993, being among the leading in that scales, in the Education Index that as published by the UN in 2008. They are tied at the first position for Education Index with other countries like Denmark, Finland and New Zealand. Education in Australia is mandatory till a specified age, which may vary between states which have complete jurisdiction over the education in their respective states. However, this age varies between 15-17 years in general, which means that education up to the secondary level is compulsory for all. Besides monitoring and regulating the activities of a school in a state by the state government, each state also has a Vocational Education and Training(VET) or otherwise a Technical and Further Education system(TAFE). The main objective and function of VET is to be able to prepare people for work in a career that may not necessarily need a university degree to be attained. It is the responsibility of each state in Australia to manage and coordinate their own system for VET and the training and education of individuals and prepare them for their work, and state representatives meet on a national level to synchronize and coordinate their efforts and unify them in a common direction towards the education of these individuals for specified tasks. Also, the national meet ensures that VET continues to be acknowledged between different states and remain applicable and valid even if a personal travels from one state to another. A VET course done in on particular state is applicable in all t he other states within the Australian domain. Typically, the course of VET takes around two years of study. The universities in all the states are funded by the central or the national government. However, each of these universities is entitled to set their own course curriculum and the government has no jurisdiction over this matter. However, for a course to run in a university set by its governance, the course must be endorsed by some professional body. A course in one of the universities in Australia takes a time period of roughly three to four years at the minimum. In the work place and the offices as well as other places of employment, the employers take into account only the courses endorsed by some professional body to employ new staff for the purpose of training or employment. The training received as one of the ongoing work places of a company, if provided in some form of documentation, adds to the advantage of the student and counts into the overall qualification of a student pursuing a course. Education system in Singapore the entire system of education in Singapore is coordinated, and managed by the Ministry of Education, or the MOE, which has the responsibility of controlling the proper governance, development and management of the state schools, which receive funding from the central government. The government also has a role in advising and supervising the activities of private schools. There are set principles to determine the role of the government in the curriculum and the autonomy the schools have, along with the nature and kind of aids that the government provides and the admission policy to the various private and public schools. There are SPEDs or schools with special education for children with disabilities and the funds for these come in parts from Voluntary Welfare Organizations as well as the MOE and the national budget, of which about 20% is contributed to these schools. In Singapore, education is compulsory till the age of primary school level, and it is a criminal offence for parents to not be able to provide their wards with this. English is the primary medium of communication in the education system in Singapore and is even the first language for the children in their preschool age. The education system in Singapore is defined as world-leading and it is one of the very few that were picked out especially for praise by the education minister Michael Gove of the United Kingdom. Singapore also follows a system which is in a manner of speaking a three-tier model but in existence has four fundamental levels. The difference comes in the precollege/pre-university level which is considered an intermediate level between school and college but essentially is an extension of senior school itself. The following tiers are maintained in the learning process of a student right from the beginning: Kindergarten: the first phase in the education cycle is the preschool phase or the kindergarten. This is meant for children from ages groups three to six years, after which they move to the next level of education. Primary school: this is the post kindergarten phase which is further divided into the following: Foundation stage, in which a basic introduction is given to the students about English, their mother tongue or a regional language, Mathematics, History and Civics and sometimes even basic sciences. The next is the orientation stage where more in depth knowledge in English, mathematics and other related courses is given depending on the ability of the student assessed so far in the preschool and the foundation stage. At the end of this, there is a primary school leaving examination (PSLE) conducted on the national level which determines whether a particular student is ready to leave the primary school at this stage. Also, the scores in this examination determine what seat the student gets in the secondary level of education. Secondary education: based on the score achieved in the PSLE, the students get different tracks or streams in the secondary school. The different streams or tracks are: Special, Express, Normal (Academic), or Normal (Technical). At this level, the aim of the education system in Singapore is to make a clear distinction between students belonging to different levels of aptitude. This has its pros as well as cons. The criticism made against this system is that the age of ten to twelve years in a students life is too less to make a comparison of him with his other peers and it may be de-motivational towards the student in not granting him a chance to study and excel with students of higher academic capabilities. Also, the distinction made creates a divide among the students and the general sense of belonging to the same class is lost. The sixth grade, some believe is too early for competitive studies and this kind and degree of competition can often become very difficult for the students to handle. However, the traditionalists believe that it is this system which is in a way helping students of all levels of aptitude cope with the pressure of academics. By putting all the high performers of the exam together and similarly, dividing the class up into separate sections, each having different difficulty levels of academics not only helps the weaker students as they no longer have to compete with the academically brilliant students who are not of the same league, but also the smarter students by putting them in a competitive environment where they get a chance to interact and learn with other students of similar potential. Hence, the Singapore system of education does believe in having students of equal intellect and aptitude studying together, while always emphasizing and encouraging the need for having a competitive environment where every student is aspiring to do well. The grading system followed by most of the schools in Singapore is similar to the one followed at the Singapore-Cambridge GCE examination at the level O. This exam is taken by students after they have completely about four to five years of education at the secondary level, with each student appearing for a minimum of six subjects or courses. The marks obtained in this exam have a corresponding grade attached to them and therefore, and these obtained grades have a meaning attached to them as mentioned below: A1/A2 (Distinction) B3/B4 (Merit) C5/C6 (Credit/Pass) D7 (Sub-Pass/fail, that is, passing at a lower standard in the exam or fail) E8/F9 (Fail) The overall total performance of a student academically is calculated through various different systems of scoring which include the L1R5, the L1R4 and L1B5 systems. For the purpose of evaluation of exams that are of a non-major kind, many schools are known to use the Mean Grade per subject method of evaluation. Schools that have currently been running the Integrated Program have also been known to use the GPA system for the purpose of evaluation, that is, the Grade Point Average method of grading. Extra-curricular and co-curricular activities are mandatory for all students at the secondary level in schools, in which all the students are required to participate in a minimum of one such activity, and this participation and their performance is graded along with other academic achievements through the four years of their education. This system of scoring is known as LEAPS (Leadership, Enrichment, Achievement, Participation, Service). There are however a few criticisms made of the prevalent education system in Singapore, often by parents of students there, that the education system is too rigid, sometimes even elitist and over-specialized in certain cases. A sharp contrast to the education system in the United States, an often faced criticism is that there is little or no support and encouragement in the system for creative thinking and little emphasis on arts and creative vision. The argument put in response to this has always been that the students of Singapore have always outperformed the others from different parts of the world in international competitions of mathematics as well as the sciences. However, what is argued is that the fact that Singaporean students performing better shows only that they are better prepared and more oriented towards preparing for these particular kinds of examinations than developing skills and the ability of free creative and critical thinking. Education System in UAE With the amelioration that United Arab Emirates has been undergoing over the past few years, one can very well predict the development in the system of education. The administration of the country has not only increased academic opportunities in big cities like Abu Dhabi and Dubai abut also in every remote area constituting the country geography. The country now has mature enough to offer education comprehensively to students ranging from kindergarten and going all the way to university levels. In fact the academics department has also made education free to the citizens of the country. This is the reason that the policies like Emiritization are seen to be successful in UAE. The students are being trained from the early days so that once they are grown-ups they have the capability to beat the best in the world. Moving further into the advancements that the countrys education has seen in the recent past, private education is provided to children of both sexes who pursue higher educati on abroad. Several thousand students in the country have done exceptionally well and have also made the country proud by being amongst the best by this system of the country. If one compares the education system existing in the country in the 1970s when the seven Emirates were formed, there has been a drastic change. With consistent policies of privatisation, UAE has been going great guns. This can be seen in the re-evaluation of the Governments role. There is a special organization in the countrys capital that is looking after this privatisation policy helping the country and its citizens mutually. This body is called the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC). Pioneer institutions like United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), Zayed University (ZU) and also Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) are doing a remarkable job in the context. So, now that the country is seeing so many reforms, one can very well see that the motive behind the same is the country wants its youth to be able to mee t the challenges of the new century. Also, the quality of education given to the individuals is good enough so that once they are graduates; they are capable enough to have jobs in the corporate world. (UAE Education Centre General information, 2010) The country has provided the following breakdown to the education system: Kindergarten: 4 -5 years old Primary: length of programme 6 years old with an age level between 6-12 years old Preparatory: length of programme 3 years old with an age level between 12-15 years old Secondary: length of programme 3 years old with an age level between 15-18 years old In this program, secondary school certificate is awarded Technical Secondary School: length of programme 6 years old with an age level between 12-18 years old In this program technical secondary diploma is awarded The education system of the country has become so strict on the past few years that it has made primary education compulsory for all levels of the society without any discrimination of its citizens. The best part of the system is that the ratio of staff to children has been kept as 1:20 which was much beyond reckoning when the Emirates were formed. This ratio is increased to 1:15 at intermediate and secondary levels of education. Another very significant mark in the development of the education system in the country is the formation of Federation. The weekend schedule of the education system was also revised in the year 2006 with Friday and Saturday being considered to constitute the weekend. Levels of Education Primary and Secondary Education As it has been mentioned, education at this level has been made compulsory in the part of the world. It has four-tiers in this sector. This has been mentioned as follows: 4-5 years old: Kindergarten 6-11 years old: primary Schools 12-14: Preparatory Stage 15-17: Secondary School In order to ensure that the children of this age are well-equipped with Islamic principles and the traditional culture of the place, the teaching staff is also chosen in the basis of Emiritization to an extent which would reach 90% by the end of year 2020. At the moment, the number of pupils attending primary school is of the order of 40%. Many of them offer foreign language courses as well but at the same time maintain the integrity of the place. The Government has allowed admissions to expatriates but on the basis of merit which would also levy fees. As far as the citizens of the country are concerned, they are experiencing the highly liberal policies of ADEC where the organization has taken the responsibility to bear all the fees of model school. Integration with Zayed University has also planned to improve English speaking capability of the masses. There are 30 faculty members from the same to look after English speaking courses in the schools at the primary and secondary levels. (Zayed University announces the five year strategic plan , 2009) IT Education The Ministry of Education in UAE is making its best possible efforts so that the plans and strategies related to the development of educational programs are able to meet international standards. As a part of all the educational strategies made by the company, there is special attention given to the introduction of latest IT resources at every level of education. Being at par with the latest IT services would make the country highly competitive on the global front. The education system is working on providing a computer amongst every ten children at the kindergarten level. The stupendous success of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid IT Education Project (ITEP) has advanced the IT system of education in the country. It has not only installed various labs in the region but it has also provided a highly valuable education resource available at www.itep.ae. ITEP serves about 40 schools in the country so far including about 13,000 students. The success rate of the students is of the order of 97%! Higher Education The most remarkable fact about UAE education is that it has been able to diversify itself in very little time. The Government institutions are available free of charge. Even some internationally accredited private institutions are also available free of charge making it highly easy for the citizens to receive impeccable education. Universities like United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) offers leading research facilities in higher education. There are more than 70 undergraduate degrees and also a substantial number of streams at the graduate level. As the country has now collaborated with many international institutions, the quality and diversity of education has gone up tremendously. Talking about Al Ain, there is more than 280,000 square meters of space available for residential as well as educational purposes. The country is also focussing to a large extent on public-private partnership in education. Top organizations of the fame of Mubadala Development Company and also UAEU have undergone the execution of a 30-yrs concession agreement. This will allow BOOT (Build Own Operate and Transfer) basis development. (build, own, operate, transfer, 2010) Zayed University This University was established with a motive to educate the women citizens of UAE. It has a facility of the worth of 370 million Dhms which encompasses an area as large as 711,000 square metres. There are in all six colleges with different departments and laboratories. The academic division of the university has been mentioned as follows: Arts and Sciences Business Sciences Communication and Media Sciences Education Information Systems The main motive of the University is to infuse bilingual knowledge in both English and Arabic with a proficiency in IT and also a considerable capability of quantitative and research skills. The University has been undergoing tremendous innovations in the past few years. Dubai Internet City (DIC) is an example of this. ZU has also partnered with IBM so as to make an enhancement of its e-business and also communication activities. The University also organized, Women as Global Leaders conference in 2006. This is done to ensure that the students of the University are prepared well enough so that they could make an active participation in the society. Higher Colleges of Technology In order to provide technically a more sound system of education, a system of UAE colleges was devised in the year 1988. It started with only 4 colleges but has 12 colleges for men and 12 for women in cities like Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Fujairah. The advancement in the number of students has gone from 239 to 15,000 in only about 2 decades. There are a number of examples in this area. As for example, Dubai Mens College provides a cent percent digital atmosphere. Academic assignments, examination mark sheets, the number of classes missed and also the library can now be accessed online in the college. The commercial arm of Higher Colleges of Technology is Applied Research and Training (CERT) has made a number of alliances with multinational firms and many elite organizations which helps in the professional development in the region. CERT is also planning to make a separate CERT City. The idea behind doing the same is to have a fully integrated facility for research, innovation and also e ntrepreneurship. Conclusion of Comparison If one puts it on the developed and the developing scale, Australia and Singapore would certainly lie on the developed side and United Arab Emirates would lie on the developing scale. The reason for the same is that it has been only about 30 years since the formation of the Emirates. As we have seen, most of the development in the country has come from the making of the federation. Such bodies were significant mush before the UAE system of education even started. But as far as the growth in education system is concerned, one would definitely put UAE right on top. The provision of free and compulsory education for the citizens is one of the traits of a country that is developing its education system. But with the rate of growth that UAE has been witnessing over the past few years, in little time, the country would be able to catch up with the likes of Australia and Singapore which are relatively developed. Very soon the results of organization like ITEP and UAEU would certainly see in ternational levels. It is the collaboration with multi-national concerns that by the end of this decade, the country could be of the likes of Singapore and Australia. As far as the International Maths and Science Study is concerned, Singapore was placed at the first place showing the mark that it has made in the mentioned subjects. This is contrast with UAE where the focus has never been specifically on Maths and Science. As the stage of development has begun in the technological era, the country focuses largely on IT than in any other subject. The education system in Singapore is more specialized and rigid than any other country. It has also been seen that the education system in Singapore involves lesser amounts of creativity. As we have seen, there is also a segregation of the more intelligent ones and the lesser ones in the education system of Singapore. The teachers are also allotted in the same order of quality. This is likely to make the intelligent more intelligent but the lesser intelligent ones would not get a chance. This has been criticised especially in the primary and the secondary levels. (A guide to universities in Singapore, 2010) As far as Australia and UAE are concerned, there is a similarity in the fact that both the countries have implemented compulsory education at the primary level. But as far as Australia is concerned, this at times is not called education at the kindergarten level where play-school is highly prominent. Such availability is not very common in UAE. To be more precise, education is considered to be compulsory in Australia between 5 and 15 only. As far as world raking is concerned, the countrys rank of 6th in Reading, 8th in Science and 13th in Mathematics does place Australia behind Singapore in the latter two subjects. If one compares UAE for that matter, it does not even include Maths in its compulsory system of education. Moreover, there is a huge amount of consideration that is given to Arabic and English in order to make bilingual scholars. The conditions as we have seen are contradictory in both Australia and Singapore. Funding and management of the education system is looked after from territory which is different from that we have seen in the case of UAE. There are certain centralized bodies that have the authority to don the particular job. Moving on to the system of free education, as we have seen, UAE is a pioneer in providing free education. The case is not similar when compared to Australia and Singapore. In fact it is highly expensive to study in the two countries. When the same is compared to UAE, for the citizens it is absolutely free. This service continues for even abroad studies. Also, the existence of expatriate-citizen is more pronounced in UAE than in the other countries. Singapore and Australia do not have policies like Emiritization to educate the natives more liberally. There are many expatriates who have been going to Australia particularly for their education. UAE also allows meritorious expatriates to study with fees levied on them but it is not as much pronounced as in Australia and Singapore. The distribution of education is also more segregated in Australia as compared to UAE and Singapore. This is visible in the chart mentioned in the Australian education sector. As far as flexibility in switching subjects is concerned, Singapore in the most liberal of the three countries. This allows the students of Singapore to be able to choose a subject of their liking. Unlike the other two countries, Singapore allows continuously improved standards to target rather than a single target set of the highest standard and expectations. As we have seen, Singapore is also alleged to have educational streaming not giving equal opportunities to all to study. In UAE this is there with respect to natives and expatriates, but in Singapore it is on the basis of talent and intelligence. This should certainly be resurrected in the future so that Singapore can produce larger masses of qualifies professionals. As far as preparation for examination is concerned, Singapore is not considered to be a favourable place. This is because; the country has always ranked in Maths and Science and not in other subjects. This is an indication of rote learning which cant be considered to be optimal in the education system. But the Singapore Ministry of Education takes pride in the fact that it ranks in the Maths and Science streams as the countrys text books are sold as far as in North America. When it comes to Australia, as the level increases from primary to secondary, the countrys education system gets all the more regularized. This is taken care of from the primary level itself in UAE to a considerable extent. (Singapores Education System, 2010) References UAE Education Centre General information. (2010). Retrieved on July 27, 2010 from http://www.uaeinteract.com/education/ Zayed University announces the five year strategic plan. (2010). Retrieved on July 27, 2010 from http://www.ameinfo.com/198293.html Build, own, operate, transfer (BOOT). (2010). Retrieved on July 27, 2010 http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/build-own-operate-transfer-BOOT.html A guide to universities in Singapore .(2010). Retrieved on July 27, 2010 http://www.uniguru.com/studyabroad/Singapore/top-best-university/education-system-in-Singapore.html Yes Australia official website .(n.d.) retrieved on July 27, 2010 from http://www.yesaustralia.com/cursoestudo-sistemaensinoing.htm SG Box official website .(n.d.). retrieved on July 27 2010 from http://www.sgbox.com/singaporeeducation.html MOE official website. (n.d.). retrieved on July 27, 2010 from http://www.moe.gov.sg/education/

Elderly Warned About Social Security Scams :: essays research papers

Elderly warned about Social Security scams WASHINGTON (AP) -- Elderly Americans should be careful about giving out their Social Security numbers, officials warned Tuesday after arresting a man who sent out letters offering an extra check to senior citizens who send back money or their bank account and Social Security numbers. "People should be really cautious about who they give their personal information to, especially their Social Security number," said Social Security Administration spokeswoman Cathy Noe. Special agents from the Social Security inspector general's office arrested Anthony David Williams, 32, in Phoenix Monday night. Williams is accused of misrepresenting himself as a government employee to defraud retirees and disabled Americans receiving Social Security benefits. He is charged with mail fraud. Calls to Phoenix phone numbers associated with Williams' businesses and to his lawyer on Tuesday were not immediately returned. Williams allegedly mailed out letters on a likeness of Social Security stationery, often following up with phone calls, according to an affidavit filed in U.S. District Court in Phoenix. "According to our records you are entitled to receive an additional check from Social Security each month," one version of the letter said. "These extra income benefits could give you up to an additional $514 per month." Recipients were asked to send a "filing fee" of varying amounts up to $23, or to fill out a form including their Social Security and bank account numbers so the fee could be "automatically deducted." The mailings were signed by "Donald Jenkins" of the "Winning Advantage Program, SSI-SSA" -- an alias used by Williams, who is British but applied last year to become a permanent U.S. legal resident. Social Security recipients usually do get letters from the government when their benefits go up. Other legitimate mailings that people get from Social Security include a new statement of taxes paid and future benefits due, which every American worker over age 25 will receive by the end of next year. "But we never ask for money for a processing fee," said Noe. The federal government also does not normally ask for someone's Social Security number -- they already know it. Indeed, Social Security prints that number as an identifier on mailings about a person's benefits. Social Security numbers are the most widely used ID in the private sector as well -- requested on the forms people fill out for everything from college registrations to bank slips.

Early Colonial Settlements :: American America History

Early Colonial Settlements In the early seventeen hundreds, after the establishment of both New England and the Chesapeake, many similarities and differences arose between the two settlements. Some of the similarities and differences included such things as family life, economy, life expectancy, and society. In the Chesapeake area, the life expectancy and general healthiness of the settlers was dangerously low. Diseases like malaria, typhoid, and dysentery had a deadly effect on the inhabitants of the area, cutting 10 years off the life expectancy. Family life in the Chesapeake was also a problem. Women were very scarce which made a strong family life almost impossible. Unmarried pregnancies were everywhere and marriages did not usually last for very long due to a death of one of the partners. This lifestyle was greatly contrasted in the area of New England. New Englanders enjoyed clean water and moderate temperatures that slowed the spread of diseases among the people. The people of New England actually had a life expectancy of ten years more than that of a person living in England. Also, in New England the family life was very strong and important. Women usually wed by their twenties and had around ten children, with about eight of those that would survive. Another contrast in the lifestyle of the New Englanders to that of those in the Chesapeake was that women in the south would usually acquire land from their husbands after they died. In New England, however, the women would give up their property rights at marriage because widowhood was much less common and also because it did not promote the unity of marriage. One common point between the two civilizations was the very prominent class distinctions. In both areas settlers also fought to restructure these systems. Rebellions such as Bacon's 1676 rebellion in Virginia, and Leisler 1689 to 1691 rebellion in New York were due to the settler's unhappiness with the social class distinctions. Another similarity was that of relatively cheap and wages which almost tripled that of the English. Unity in New England was something that was not commonly found in the Chesapeake. New England's puritan ways easily molded this tightly knight colony. In the Chesapeake this was not the case. Farmers were more of loners who did not move or live in very close communities. New England grew in a more organized way, unlike the Chesapeake that was very spontaneous in its growth. Early Colonial Settlements :: American America History Early Colonial Settlements In the early seventeen hundreds, after the establishment of both New England and the Chesapeake, many similarities and differences arose between the two settlements. Some of the similarities and differences included such things as family life, economy, life expectancy, and society. In the Chesapeake area, the life expectancy and general healthiness of the settlers was dangerously low. Diseases like malaria, typhoid, and dysentery had a deadly effect on the inhabitants of the area, cutting 10 years off the life expectancy. Family life in the Chesapeake was also a problem. Women were very scarce which made a strong family life almost impossible. Unmarried pregnancies were everywhere and marriages did not usually last for very long due to a death of one of the partners. This lifestyle was greatly contrasted in the area of New England. New Englanders enjoyed clean water and moderate temperatures that slowed the spread of diseases among the people. The people of New England actually had a life expectancy of ten years more than that of a person living in England. Also, in New England the family life was very strong and important. Women usually wed by their twenties and had around ten children, with about eight of those that would survive. Another contrast in the lifestyle of the New Englanders to that of those in the Chesapeake was that women in the south would usually acquire land from their husbands after they died. In New England, however, the women would give up their property rights at marriage because widowhood was much less common and also because it did not promote the unity of marriage. One common point between the two civilizations was the very prominent class distinctions. In both areas settlers also fought to restructure these systems. Rebellions such as Bacon's 1676 rebellion in Virginia, and Leisler 1689 to 1691 rebellion in New York were due to the settler's unhappiness with the social class distinctions. Another similarity was that of relatively cheap and wages which almost tripled that of the English. Unity in New England was something that was not commonly found in the Chesapeake. New England's puritan ways easily molded this tightly knight colony. In the Chesapeake this was not the case. Farmers were more of loners who did not move or live in very close communities. New England grew in a more organized way, unlike the Chesapeake that was very spontaneous in its growth.

E-Commerce and the New Economy Essay -- Internet Online Communication

E-Commerce and the New Economy The web has transformed our global economy. It is a powerful tool that has changed the way we produce, market and distribute goods and services. Finances and culture have been altered. New styles of commerce have developed. For example, a business call placed in North America could be handled by a technical expert in Asia as business is conducted internationally as well as transnationally. The purpose of this essay is to examine the issues, challenges and opportunities related to commerce in the â€Å"new economy†. The internet became popular in 1995. It creates many opportunities in different kind of industries. Ecommerce is one of the successful examples of buying and selling on the web. It is like a cocoon, which became mature in these recent years. Low start-up costs make online businesses attractive to new entrepreneurs. Establishing their businesses online can eliminate store rental expenses; they don’t have to hire anybody to take care of it (Charles Steinfield). They can upload some pictures and descriptions of their products online. This allows their customers to see what they are buying. Moreover, customers can search for their needs whenever they want as long as they have an access to the internet (Charles Steinfield). Because of globalization, the national boundaries are eliminated as well. Customers can make their purchase anywhere around the world. This expands target markets. Buying products online, customers can ask questions anytime when they encounter any problem or have doubts about what they are buying (Charles Steinfield). Many websites have provided online support services. Buyers can contact sellers directly and discuss their concerns. Therefore, the interaction between b... ...r shopping will be done at home on the web. This will bring society into a new economy. Bibliography 1) Donna L. Hoffman, Thomas P. Novak and Patrali Chatterjee, â€Å"Commercial Scenarios for the Web: Opportunities and Challenges† http://www.ascusc.org/jcmc/vol1/issue3/hoffman.html Owen Graduate School of Management, Vanderbilt University 2) Charles Steinfield, â€Å"An introduction to the special issue† http://www.ascusc.org/jcmc/vol1/issue3/genintro.html Michigan State University 3) Rolf T. Wigand and Robert I. Benjamin, â€Å"Electronic Commerce: Effects on Electronic Markets† http://www.ascusc.org /jcmc/vol1/issue3/wigand.html School of information Studies, Syracuse University 4) Nonick â€Å"Buying online. Is it safe? What are the Dangers of Buying Online?† http://www.zyra.org.uk/buysafe.htm Zyra 5) Straubhaar and LaRose, â€Å"Media Now† Third Edition, Wadsworth, 2002

Lion king

The Lion King was first made in 1994 directed by Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff. The original Disney cartoon of a lion cub blamed for his father's death has been remade into a Broadway musical acclaimed all over the world. The Lion King is a musical based on the 1994 Disney animated film of the same name with music by Elton John. Directed by Julie Taymor, the musical features actors in animal costumes as well as giant, hollow puppets. The show is produced by Disney Theatrical.The director works closely with the performers in the theatre, guiding them in sharping their performance. The director also works closely with the playwright, and is responsible, as well, for coordinating other aspects of the production. When Julie Taymor the director was faced with a problem of whether to create humans or animals playing the part and she decided to make masks that show the animal face, as well as, show the human face giving the character his or her personality.The costumes have a value of their own, adding color, shape, texture, and symbolism to overall effect. Other element such as; make up, hairstyles, mask and personal items like bracelets and necklaces and also very important. As for expressing other animals that are not part of the main cast or to express a certain theme, 2 different kinds of puppetry were used to express an African theme. Masks are considered â€Å"functional works of art† and play a social purpose in Africa.They are used in storytelling and ceremonies and are made to be worn over the head rather than cover the face. This technique is also used in The Lion King so that the human facial expression is not lost and to support the beadwork, corsets and armor used to show the human qualities of a lion. The costumes on the other hand are made of silk cloth to hide the human form, break the shoulder line and to enhance the powerful Joints and thighs. Lion king The Lion King was first made in 1994 directed by Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff. The original Disney cartoon of a lion cub blamed for his father's death has been remade into a Broadway musical acclaimed all over the world. The Lion King is a musical based on the 1994 Disney animated film of the same name with music by Elton John. Directed by Julie Taymor, the musical features actors in animal costumes as well as giant, hollow puppets. The show is produced by Disney Theatrical.The director works closely with the performers in the theatre, guiding them in sharping their performance. The director also works closely with the playwright, and is responsible, as well, for coordinating other aspects of the production. When Julie Taymor the director was faced with a problem of whether to create humans or animals playing the part and she decided to make masks that show the animal face, as well as, show the human face giving the character his or her personality.The costumes have a value of their own, adding color, shape, texture, and symbolism to overall effect. Other element such as; make up, hairstyles, mask and personal items like bracelets and necklaces and also very important. As for expressing other animals that are not part of the main cast or to express a certain theme, 2 different kinds of puppetry were used to express an African theme. Masks are considered â€Å"functional works of art† and play a social purpose in Africa.They are used in storytelling and ceremonies and are made to be worn over the head rather than cover the face. This technique is also used in The Lion King so that the human facial expression is not lost and to support the beadwork, corsets and armor used to show the human qualities of a lion. The costumes on the other hand are made of silk cloth to hide the human form, break the shoulder line and to enhance the powerful Joints and thighs.

Mfn Status to India

MFN to India The Pakistani eyeshot look into Paper 2012 Zoya Mohsin Awan BBA2K9(s) 4/24/2012 Hatred, enmity, war a few of the some an another(prenominal)(prenominal) things we come to with our neighboring rude India. 1965, 1975 and the Kargil War of 1999 with Kashmir already a b unrivaled of contention, Pakistan has skipped loops by still gaining thought of granting just about promote Nation Status to India on the handling t fitting. Since WTOs Charter requires every signatory to grant MFN military position to other WTO members, on that point arent many ifs and furthers to ponder.What real is open for make do is whether we want to sw apiece(prenominal)ow the pill now, on our terms, or later when it susceptibility be forced down our throats on person elses terms (India still hasnt hold inn the violation of this basic rule to WTO). No matter which stance we chose, cardinal thing is certain this is the deal which defines the future(a) course of Pakistan. And th is is the deal which mogul be our chance of actually becoming what we strike the potency to become Pakistan. Introduction Pakistan and India go for been under the lime-light ever since the partition of the sub-continent.During the 1960s, Pakistan was labelled the Asian tiger slice India the wicket Case. Today however, the roles urinate been reversed. Through- issue this period, the Indo-Pak wad kept showing a vary trend to the negative side as shown by the figure below The pile of traffic has remained low generally. MFN operate ons towards the relaxation of profession which not altogether would split up a forward momentum to the integration of twain(prenominal) countries frugalally, but would also compound their image on the international platform.Cheaper be of production, exchange of skilled labor, education influx and the worry of the US and europiuman scrimping into this comp matchlessnt would process give the in one sheath coveted locating of S byh A sia, tooshie to the forces who originated it. Hence, a carefully reconciled MFN location should be granted to India in coif to achieve the long-term prosperity of our country. The scotch Perspective aft(prenominal) going finished a large array of natural debating this let out, two schools of thoughts generally emerge the protagonists, who brave the idea of non-discriminatory trade mingled with some(prenominal) countries.And the antagonists, who believe such a measure, would only harm the frugality by let free-flow of cheaper Indian legals into the Pakistani foodstuff and well, get our options down on the Kashmir issue. The former moots, that by doing so not only do we get devil to a capableness market which is 8 to 9 measure great than ours, but it also gives us a dependable foundation of unwashed dependence to minimize the security concerns across the duck.India is swooping rooks and pawns off the economic chess identity card towards becoming the third big gest economy of the world, in the startle drift it leads us up to a stalemate, this government agencyment could be put to advantage for some(prenominal) countries. After all, India cannot keep prospering in a sustained manner if it neighbored by a nation terrorized by political and economic destabilization. So it would be an opportune time for Pakistan to bask in Indias glory. Practically speaking, this is the only modal value we could work towards a productive political debate for twain the countries especially since the environmental flesh after Mumbai attacks of 2008.After all, a long-standing heartsease line of battle can only nurture, if it guards within the deeply ingrained seed of mutual benefit. On the other hand, the antagonists argument that this free-trade would open the floodgates to cheaper Indian products which in turn could harm Pakistans economy majorly. However, this could be a imperious impact upon the Pakistani consumer since they profits nettle to im ported Indian goods at a lower price. We also nonplus Taiwan, Hong Kong and withal China who are on our MFN describe and pack bombarded us with fierce disputation in the past.Yet if our industries did not cave in to them and withheld own-selves then why fear India? Besides, if the Pakistani market demands a particular good from India, MFN military position or not, it would be contraband cross b pitch anyway so why not legalize it to brace our own interests. Take the example of the Indian Cinema, years and years of culture seeped by means of the media towards us, while the Wagha Border remained bolted shut. The only issue here is, the Pakistani tax-payer is paying outlying(prenominal) more than it usually would submit referable to the added layers of cost of go-between trade via Dubai.Conversely, this newsworthiness has drawn a mixed reception from all the quarters of the problem community. Some, comparable the auto-parts, pharmaceuticals and consumer goods industries , face hard-hitting competition. They fear that India is trac slacken bankrupt quality goods at a lower cost of production cod to the economies of scale. On the other hand, industries ilk textile, pastime and agriculture are in kick upstairs of granting the Most Favored Nation status to India.These industries argue that trade estimated trade of more or less $13 one thousand million with India is being carried out illegally via cross-border smuggling and personal baggage. Also, corroboratory trade of an approximate worth of aroung $3-4 billion via third parties like UAE, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh is costing us a higher mark-up since the intermediary adds up their cost as well. So it is remedy to legitimize this ongoing process and reap some probable gain out of this situation. In support of this argument, I advert the former Finance Minister of Pakistan and valetudinarianism President of the World Bank, Shahid Javed Burki what economics told us is that when trade betwee n a long and small economy started, smaller economy always benefited from that and what I believe that at macro level Pakistan would benefit, especially in industrial and agricultural sectors. Some sectors might get hurt, but not practically as feared. Published in The bear witness Tribune, April 3rd, 2012. Free-trade spurs competitiveness which would encourage our local industries to hassle their standards and produce quality goods. It has never really hurt any country and all the benefits from recent experience in the European nub, Asian etc, are in that location for everyone to see.It would in fact take a scalawag from the book of John Locke by fate us attain a joint ground of mutual-coexistence and economic interdependence to entrust upon. The Regional Perspective southeast vitamin E Asia by abroad-spectrum consensus is the least integrated of vicinitys economically due to the disparity and animosity between Pakistan and India. Regional cooperation is must to roo t for obese investment in todays globalised world. Diminutive and splintered markets do not attract endowment by substantial investors.The European Union may be try to save the euro but one of Europes most monumental successes is the construct of the frontier-free single market where goods, services and people can circulate untrammeled by border restrictions. Similarly, Association of southeasterly eastern United States Asian Markets (ASEAN) is working towards building a prevalent market for the whole region by following the European Unions lead. It is high time India and Pakistan bushel aside their differences (or at least take small cadences towards resolving them) for the general welfare of the whole region.If we create an economic bloc like the sorts of EU or Middle-East, it would ensure a better talk terms position vis-a-vis other countries. in spite of appearance the protective walls of regional economies, both countries would achieve specialization in various sub -sectors of the manufacture. Moreover, the fortify of zygomorphous trade would provide a mutual cushion against financial or stock market shocks. With these two countries beat into one economic power, all of South Asia could become a better place monetarily.Another aspect of the MFN status would be to make up the connectivity with central Asia. If Indian goods are permitted to journey through Pakistan, then the whole region will benefit. For illustration, the Indian state of Punjab is several(prenominal) thousand kilometers away from the seaports, but the farmers in that respect and in the nearby states would be able to send their agricultural products to Central Asia if these are allowed freely through Pakistan. Same goes for Indian textiles and all the landlocked states which would be facilitated by their proximity to the Pakistani ports.The advent of MFN status will also help spot the implementation of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas channel, as a n ew environment of trust and cooperation prevails. regular(a) more significantly, natural gas via pipeline will provide the Indian and talent deprived Pakistani industry with a massive boost in sectors ranging from petrochemicals to fertilizers galvanic power production will cast up dramatically and a myriad of new commercial uses will be supported. In diminish Pakistan could profit from the easy pass over tip off that it would receive as a royal house and it would only be possible if MFN status is rendered toIndia. Social Perspective Trade is one kind mobilizer which would generate benefits for both countries as well as their people. Talking more or less Pakistan singularly, 61. 3% of the people (according to the HDI reports) in Pakistan pass away below the poverty line. With a 15. 4% un job rate, Pakistan should not forego any opportunity that provides job opportunities to its masses. Poverty is but a challenge that can be get the best by pursuing sustained pro-poor p olicies. iodine such policy is the granting of MFN status to India and lifting the trade barriers across border.India is a gigantic market and would provide a smaller country like Pakistan with access to a greater market and change magnitude the demand for their product. This in turn would hoist the output and employment levels in both countries. Secondly, Since India shares a border with us, the freight cost and ease of access would increase the flow of a various product base at a lower cost, saving our countrys foreign exchange substantially. Pakistan could turn in entree to quality products in sectors like IT, electronics, displace gear etc.Thirdly, this legitimization might curb social atrocities like smuggling and illicit trade. This would increase the government revenue for Pakistan since all the goods would be traded under their accord. Another faucet where India surpasses many others in this region is its IT infrastructure. India is expected to contain the next Silicon Valley of the speed of light considering its growth in the IT sector. Pakistan could benefit vastly from the inflow of this technology while India could gain advantage by the progress Pakistan has make in its agriculture and industry.Both countries could complement each others posits and strengths and because prove beneficial to their people. The Cultural Perspective With the advent of the prospect of MFN policy, both countries have started aiming towards more amiable business conditions therefrom easier visa-processing procedures have been bought on the discussion table since November 14, 2011. This would invigorate the static tourism industry between both countries. Both have many historical and religious places significant to the other.This would not only generate superfluous foreign exchange revenue, it would also help increase the people-to-people contact between both countries. Eventually, once the masses start interacting, peace would follow automatically between both regions. Generally, the relations between once brethren Pakistani and Indians are cordial and friendly. A common example would be how well Pakistanis and Indians gelatin when theyre living abroad, out of the catch of their respectively acrid medias. Delegations of trade bodies, academics, artists, sportsmen, social scientists and media personnel could be exchanged.This would invoke the once unbreakable cultural bond between both nations considering how much value we place upon common games like cricket and hockey. Threats and Concerns Although the benefits of granting the needful MFN status to India are tremendous, every step Pakistan takes should be guarded and well-thought of. There is no harm in protecting ones own-self against any potential threats that might occur due to any hurried move we make, after all there are years of enmity that we need to overcome forward taking bulky steps.Firstly, WTO provisions allow members to impose safeguards constrictive imports (for temp orary periods) should such imports unfairly or seriously injure domestic producers. Pakistan should rightfully use this clause in case Indian goods start flooding the Pakistani market and ruin local producers. After all, trade should be liberalized but not at the cost of local industries. The insurgent issue that should be considered is that India, despite its loosening of trade to Pakistan in 1993, is still a restricting domain to us due to high tariff and non-tariff barriers.Prohibitive NTBs have made our exports to India highly expensive while the trade deficit tilts highly towards Pakistan. We should bring this issue on the WTO summits and appeal to India to both reduce these NTBs and other trade restricting clauses or grant a similar status quo to India. Pakistans business community generally has reservations because it does not have competitive pricing in many industries and goods. The automotive and pharmaceutical industries are gear up examples of apprehension at grantin g India access to our market.In order to maintain local stabilization, we need to have all stakeholders to this situation aboard before we chalk out any definitive plan. Concessions should be granted to concerned parties for instance, the gondola industry should be assured that auto-parts would be imported instead of wholly assembled cars. Unbridled, unmanaged and rampant liberalization of trade would lead to crazy house in any economy huge or small. Or policies could be hypothesise in such a way that they would be strict at first (as Indias have been since 1993) and then slowly tighten the nose and India shows signs of economic conciliation.Conclusion In retrospect, is it really possible for Pakistan to identify India with bilateral economic prosperity, cross-border trade of culture, and easier visa transit? Political differences between India and Pakistan aside, there is no harm in trading with each other. Our leaders must take into esteem long-term benefits. India has a much better managed economy, but it cannot afford openness. On the other hand, Pakistans economy is not so closed, and it could take advantage in this regard.Pakistan, like other developing countries, has strong interest in the maintenance and strengthening of the three-cornered rules-based trading system represented by the WTO. The current situation in South Asia indicates that there are large untapped opportunities for intra-regional trade that could be mutually beneficial. diplomatic efforts towards this objective however utopian, is well perceived to be the beginning of soft-ties between both countries. After all, it is said that where diplomacy ends the potential for war begins to take shape.Bibliography 1) Beteille, T. (2011). Pakistans Most Favored Nation Status to India A Win-Win for the Region? blogs. worldbank. org . 2) Brown, C. (2006). The Implications of Liberalization of Trade with India. 3) Dr Monnoo, Kamal (2012). MFN status to India An analysis www. nation. com. pk . 4) Gupta, Sorojit. (2012). Pakistan to grant MFN status to India this year. www. timesofindia. com. 5) snap Newspaper and Articles. 1 . http//www. ishtiaqahmad. com/item_display. aspx? isting_id=725&listing_type=1 2 . http//blogs. worldbank. org/endpovertyinsouthasia/pakistan%E2%80%99s-most-favored-nation-status-india-win-win-region 3 . http//www. eastasiaforum. org/2011/12/03/what-the-most-favoured-nation-decision-means-for-india-and-pakistan/ 4 . http//www. himalmag. com/component/content/article/3644-magic-pipes. hypertext markup language 5 . http//nayyab. wordpress. com/2010/05/08/rising-unemployment-in-pakistan/ 6 . http//www. aninews. in/newsdetail2/story22210/india-welcomes-trade-ties-with-pak-eyes-mfn-visa-easing-process. hypertext mark-up language